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REMIMI3CErfCE3 

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AM ARMY WUR5E 

Dunmo 

THE CIVIL WAR. 



AOELWbE-W^JMlTH 

VOiUWTtER. 



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GREAVES PUBLISHING- COMPANY 
New York 

MCMXI 






Dedication 

To the 

Boys in Blue 

1861-1865; 

and to those brave women who, with smiling faces 
and breaking hearts, sent them forth to save their 
country and their homes, while they themselves 
toiled in fields and elsewhere, waiting to welcome 
home too many who never returned; and to that 
band of heroic devoted women, many of whom left 
luxurious homes for the discomforts and privations 
of hospital life, and died, self-sacrificing patriots of 
the war, this true story is affectionately dedicated. 

A. W. S. 



COPYRIGHT 1911 

BY 

ADELAIDE W. SMITH 



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YORK PRINTING COMPANY 
YORK, PA. 

©CI.A303685 



Contents 



PAGE 



Foreword ^ 

I. A View of the Situation 11 

II. Long Island College Hospital, Brook- 
lyn 21 

III. Bedloe's Island, Now Liberty 33 

IV. The Great Manhattan Fair of the 

United States Sanitary Commission 4-1 

V. New England Rooms 53 

VI. Arms and Trophy Department of the 

Sanitary Commission Fair 59 

VII. Unique Case of WiUiam Mudge 71 

VIII. The Start for the Front 78 

IX. Some Patients 84 

X. Experiences at Point of Rocks 90 

XL Depot Field Hospital and State 

Agencies at City Point, Virginia. . . 96 
XII. City Point, Virginia,— A Day in The 

Army H^ 

XIII. Dorothea Dix 125 

XIV. An Unexpected Ride 131 

XV. Two Fiancees 139 

XVL The Story of My Pass 144 

XVII. Thanksgiving, 1864, Under Fire at 

Dutch Gap, Virginia 148 

XVIII. Domestic Life in Camp and Other 

Incidents 160 



\ CONTENTS 

XIX. Love in Camp 167 

XX. New York State Agency 185 

XXI. A House Moving 191 

XXII. The Last Parade of Confederate 

Prisoners 197 

XXIII. Our First Sight of Petersburg 300 

XXIV. Preparing for a Visit to Richmond, the 

Capital of the Lost Confederacy. . . . 209 

XXV. Recollections of Lincoln 216 

XXVI. Recent Letter from Dr. Mary Black- 
mar Bruson 229 

XXVII. Last of City Point 234 

XXVIII. Washington and New York State 

Agency 240 

XXIX. Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C. 247 
XXX. The Last Act in My Drama at Wash- 
ington 253 

XXXI. Transportation Home 260 



Foreword 

THIS story, devoid of literary pretensions, is 
a simple narration of day by day experiences, 
as they came to me, during five years of vol- 
unteer work in hospitals of the Civil War. 

At the risk of some slight repetition, it has been 
thought best to include " Recollections of Lincoln " 
and " Love in Camp " practically as they were 
when published separately. 

I wish to express my high appreciation and 
thanks for the confidence and encouragement of 
those friends who thought the book should be writ- 
ten that the younger generations may know some- 
thing of the work done by women during the war. 

To the Rev. W. M. Brundage, of Brooklyn, I am 
especially indebted for practical suggestions that 
have made the publication possible. 

With some limitations, during two summers, I 
betook myself to the unique Seventh-day-Baptist 
University town of Alfred, New York, where the 
story was written on the picturesque campus, in a 
pure atmosphere free from all disturbing elements. 

It has been a labor of love and pleasure to review 
the old scenes, replete though they were with suf- 
fering and death, for the thought of the comfort we 
were able to give to the '' Boys " and the remem- 
brance of their gratitude remain. In no other 
benevolent work of my life was the reward so im- 



10 FOREWORD 

mediate and so inspiring as in this ministration. I 
have given real names and literal words as nearly 
as possible, except in cases where there was some- 
thing unpleasant to relate; and I may truly add 
that, even to be young again, I would not have 
missed those years of incessant care and anxiety, 
given in the hope of saving brave soldiers for their 
country and their homes. 

A. W. S. 



CHAPTER I 
A VIEW OF THE SITUATION 

" Heartstrong South would have his way 
Headstrong North had said him nay, 
They charged, they struck ; both fell, both bled ; 
Brain rose again ungloved ; " 

H: *♦•!•♦* * 

SIDNEY LANIER, Centennial Poem. 

IT is not my intention to write history, but it 
seems advisable to mention in a few brief notes 
or extracts, for the benefit of the present genera- 
tion, the sentiments held during the Civil War. 

When the first Confederate shot was fired upon 
the United States flag, then floating over Fort 
Sumter in Charleston Harbor, many months of un- 
rest, foreboding, and apprehension of a coming 
terror were experienced by the people of the North. 
This fatal shot caused the separation of hitherto 
devoted families; fathers and sons were arrayed 
against each other, some in hate, some in sorrow; 
and even mothers, wives and sisters shared this un- 
holy animosity. All took pronounced sides with 
North or South, except the " copperheads ", whom 
all loyal Northerners despised. 

General Winfield Scott, the hero of many a hard 
fought Mexican battle, though quite superannu- 
ated, was still in command of the United States 
armies. Imperative, supercilious, an austere dis- 
ciplinarian, usually adorned with all the ornamenta- 
tion of his rank, with chapeau and white plumes, he 

(11) 



12 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

was, especially when well mounted, a conspicuous 
figure, quite justifying his sobriquet of '' Fuss and 
Feathers ". 

In consequence of the secession of South Caro- 



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GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT 



lina, on December 20th, i860. General Anderson, 
commander of the forts of the harbor of Charleston 
Bay, evacuated Fort Moultrie six days later. 
The " Star of the West ", bringing reinforce- 



A VIEW OF THE SITUATION 13 

merits, was fired upon by the Confederates, thus 
preventing the landing of United States troops. 

On April nth, 1861, General Anderson refused 
an order to surrender to General Beauregard, who, 
during the 12th and 13th, ordered a furious bom- 
bardment from the surrounding forts upon Fort 
Sumter. Being unprepared for the attack. General 
Anderson was compelled to capitulate and to take 
refuge, with his garrison, on ships outside the har- 
bor. On April 14th, 1861, however, he saved the 
National flag, which is now carefully preserved in 
the Museum of the War Department at Washing- 
ton, no casualties having occurred. 

The fort was held by the Confederates till the 
evacuation of Charleston, February 17th, 1865. 

On April 14th, 1865, General Anderson had the 
happiness to raise the old flag once more, with his 
own hands, over the demolished fort. 

The following extracts from an unpublished let- 
ter of John White Chadwick were selected and 
kindly given me by Mrs. Chadwick. 

SOME EXTRACTS FROM AN ACCOUNT OF A TRIP 

TO CHARLESTON AND BACK 

ON THE OCCASION OF THE RAISING OF THE FLAG 

ON FORT SUMTER AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. 

" Land, ho ! " 

When at last it was permitted us to raise this cry, 
we were indeed a happy company. We entered into 
the experience of Columbus and Cabot and Balboa. 
The pilot came on board. He told us, as the pilots 
always did, to come to anchor, and we obeyed him. 
And lying there on the still water, in the perfect air, 



14 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

there came another feeHng than that of joy. The at- 
mosphere grew heavy with deep thoughts and w^onder- 
ful associations. Our hearts were softened and our 
eyes were dashed with sudden tears. In dark and lurid 
splendor, all the great events of four long, painful years 
rose up before us. And then again we hoisted anchor 
and steamed slowly up toward the city in the deepen- 
ing twilight 

The war ships, lying there like terrible grim mon- 
sters, manned their rigging as we passed, and cheered 
us lustily. But there was something in our throats 
forbidding us to answer them with equal heartiness. 

Passing under the battered walls of Sumter, we sang 
with trembling voices, " Praise God from whom all 
blessings flow ". And to the left was Wagner and the 
ditch where Colonel Shaw was buried with his dark 
but trusty men. 

It happened so, that God in His great mercy, per- 
mitted us to be bearers of great tidings to the city — 
news of the rebellion's virtual end to this community 
which saw its mad beginning. Once shouted from our 
deck, it flew from wharf to wharf, from ship to ship, 
and was received with shouts of thankful joy. The 
night shut in over the accursed city as a band upon the 
wharf played the dear strain " America ". It was a 
time never to be forgotten, pregnant with thoughts 
that must remain unspoken. Before I tried to sleep I 
stepped ashore, and, just for a moment, standing there 
under the silent stars, thanked God that He had 
punished awful sin with awful retribution 

On Friday, just after ten o'clock, we started for the 
fort in the steamer " Golden Gate ", which the Govern- 
ment officials kindly placed at our disposal. About the 
fort the scene was at once beautiful and exciting. 
There were thirty ships and steamers in its immediate 
vicinity, and they blossomed all over with flags. And 
the little boats belonging to the war ships were shoot- 
ing here and there and everywhere, obedient to the 
lusty strokes of their stout oarsmen, dressed for the 
occasion in their very best. 



A VIEW OF THE SITUATION 15 

We were on shore by half past twelve o'clock, and 
wandering at will about the tattered mound that had 
once been Fort Sumter. Indeed they had made " Ossa 
like a wart ". It had no form or comeliness. It was 

a perfect heap Anon came General Anderson 

and Mr. Beecher and the rest. The General's speech 
was, for so great an hour, the very smallest possible 
affair. But when it came to raising the old flag he 
did hoist away like a good fellow, and it went up right 
handsomely. The people rose up as one man, and 
shouted their hurrahs as if they thought to wake the 
echoes from the St. Lawrence to the Gulf. And the 
band played " The Star Spangled Banner " just as if 
they meant it, — as they did of course. And then from 
ship and fort the cannon thundered away like mad .... 

And when they ceased with their roar Mr. 

Beecher took it up and thundered, to good purpose, 
for an hour or more 

Saturday saw William Lloyd Garrison preside over 
an assembly of two thousand colored people, if not 
more, in Zion Church, and noble words were spoken 
which these people did not fail to understand 

From Charleston wharf to Hampton Roads our voy- 
age was pleasant, and the weather very fine 

Going into Hampton Roads, on Tuesday, swiftly and 
silently over the still water, we saw a vessel with her 
colors at half mast. Not long after a pilot shouted to 
us across the waves, from a great distance, that the 
President was dead. Either we could not or we Would 
not believe it. 

Another vessel sailed along with drooping colors and 
told us how he died. And then the shadow of his death 
swept down and folded from our sight all of those 
great and rare experiences which we had been enjoy- 
ing. It seemed to us that we should never be able to 
recollect them from that shadow. We went ashore at 
the great fortress, where his dear feet had been, 
scarcely a week before, but we had no eyes to see any- 
thing 

It had been proposed to go to Portsmouth, Norfolk 



16 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

and to City Point. But we had no heart for it. And 
so we came together in the cabin and voted that we 
would go home. 

JOHN WHITE CHADWICK. 



The Government called for seventy-five thousand 
troops on April 15th to put down the rebellion *' in 
ninety days ", according to Secretary Seward's con- 
fident announcement. 

On April 19th, the Sixth Regiment of the Massa- 
chusetts Brigade, first to respond to the call, was 
fired upon by a mob while passing through Balti- 
more, and a number were wounded and some killed, 

The Ellsworth Zouaves were enlisted chiefly 
through the enthusiastic patriotism of young 
Colonel Ellsworth, who, on arriving at Alexandria 
with his regiment, saw a Confederate flag flying 
above a small hotel, and at once ordered the flag 
hauled down. This was refused, and the indignant 
boy rashly rushed to the roof, and dared to pull it 
down himself, when he was shot dead by the rebel 
owner. Colonel Ellsworth was killed May 24th, 
1 86 1. Lincoln's grief at the death of this daring 
boy was overwhelming. Ellsworth had studied 
law with him for a time in his office, and he loved 
him as a son ; and as a son and early martyr of the 
war, he was laid in state at the White House for 
funeral services. 

War with its untold horrors had begun. 

Meanwhile it was becoming evident that Presi- 
dent Buchanan had permitted, or had at least be- 
come strangely blind to the introduction of foreign 



A VIEW OF THE SITUATION 17 

ammunition into Southern ports, while the traitor 
Secretary Floyd, still under oath to the Union, held 
his office until the last possible moment, encourag- 
ing and assisting the South in building forts and, in 
many ways, accumulating almost openly materials 
of war. 

At last the people awoke to the fact that many 
southern regiments and garrisons were well 
equipped for the conflict, while the unsuspecting 
North was almost wholly unprepared. People had 
become so accustomed to " fire-eaters' bluster " 
and their threats and boastings of the superior 
prowess of the South that, if they listened at all, it 
was considered mere political bombast which 
passed unheeded until war was actually begun. 

In November, 1861, General McClellan super- 
ceded General Scott, who then retired from active 
duty, at the age of seventy-five, and died later at 
the good old age of eighty. 

General McClellan began a slow thorough sys- 
tem of discipline, which was very trying to the en- 
thusiasm of volunteer recruits, who soon discovered 
that to use the pick and shovel were as essential 
duties as carrying a musket, and were now com- 
pelled to work in swamps and trenches throwing 
up earthworks and entrenchments for many long 
months. 

The impatient public claimed that egotism and 
ambition prevented General McClellan from mov- 
ing " on to Richmond ", thus prolonging the war, 
and his army settled down before the enemy " in 



18 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

masterly inactivity ". During this time many dis- 
gruntled soldiers climbed hills and trees and saw 
the city of Richmond practically defenseless " for 
three days ". Still he did not move. This large 
army had lived and worked in earthworks for many 




GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN 

weary months, until malaria and dysentery had sent 
hundreds of incapacitated soldiers North to be 
cared for. They were among the first bitter fruits 
of the terrible struggle scarcely yet begun. 

Not long after the defeat at Bull Run — Ma- 
nassas, — both sides claimed the victory, — did 



A VIEW OF THE SITUATION 19 

we for a moment believe that Southern courage 
was equal to Northern valor in an open conflict, or 
that the rebellion could not be put down within a 
few months; and so we stood aghast when the at- 
tack under General McDowell failed to put down 
the rebellion in a single battle. 

General Horatio C. King, in his address before 
the thirty-seventh reunion of the Army of the Po- 
tomac, repeated these potent words of General 
Grant : 

"As I recall the interview General Grant spoke 
in substance as follows : ' I cannot imagine why 
any one should conceive for a moment that I would 
not be glad to work in any capacity with General 
McClellan. I have known him but little person- 
ally since we served together in Mexico, but I have 
always admired him both as a man and as a soldier, 
and I am probably under greater obligations to 
General McClellan than to any one man now living. 
General McClellan was called to a great command, 
unfortunately for him too early in the history of the 
war, when many difficult military and political 
questions remained unsettled. He and his acts 
were the subject of wide discussion and unjust crit- 
icism, but General McClellan was the man who 
created the great instrumentality with which I had 
the honor of closing out the rebellion. General 
McClellan organized, trained, disciplined, led, and 
inspired the Army of the Potomac, General Mc- 
Clellan made that army the finest fighting machine 
of our day, if not of any time. It was his good 



20 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

work in creating that army which enabled me in 
my turn to accomplish the things for which I re- 
ceived the glory, and for all of which I am grateful 
to General McClellan/ " 



LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL 21 



CHAPTER II 

LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL, 
BROOKLYN 

IN July, 1862, one hundred and twenty-five pa- 
tients from the Army of the Potomac were sent 
to the Long Island College Hospital. No ade- 
quate preparation had been made to provide for 
these sick men. Through the press a public call 
was sent out for volunteers. Many ladies and gen- 
tlemen at once offered to help care for the sick, 
and to supply food for their emaciated bodies. 

An endorsement of the distinguished physician 
of Romson Street, Dr. Burge, made me quite happy 
by affording me the privilege of helping to care for 
the soldiers in our city. 

Among the large number of our best Brooklyn 
people to volunteer their help and support was our 
saintly Mrs. Richard Manning, who continued her 
ministration throughout the long duration of the 
war, and for many years after gave substantial help 
to the destitute families of soldiers; and also Mrs. 
Anna C. Field, chief organizer and president of the 
Woman's Club, as well as of the Woman's Suffra- 
gist Association. Both of these clubs celebrated, 
during the spring of 1909, in the new Brooklyn 
Academy of Music, the fortieth anniversary of their 
organization. I believe that, in modern Brooklyn, 
no other woman has done so much, in her long life 
of benevolence and charity, as this Mother of 



22 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Brooklyn Clubs, for the elevation and encourage- 
ment of women especially in ethics and literature. 

Watches of four hours each during the day were 
assigned to the women, and at night the same num- 
ber of hours were allotted to men volunteers. 




MRS. ANNA C. FIELD 



Owing to the astonishing liberality of the citizens 
of Brooklyn, the hospital donations seemed like a 
great cornucopia overflowing the larders of the im- 
provised kitchen. Tender, motherly care, com- 
bined with the best of diet, at once restored many a 
poor, hungry homesick boy. Most of them recov- 



LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL 23 

ered and returned to their regiments or were sent 
home. 

My first patient was a bright, cheerful young 
man, Allan Foote, of Michigan, who had been dan- 
gerously wounded by a shot that passed through 
the left lung and out at his back. Such wounds 




ALLAN FOOTE 



were then supposed to be fatal. He was, however, 
convalescent, and later was discharged. When he 
returned to his home in Michigan he again enlisted, 
raised a company, and went out once more to the 
front as captain. This time he served till the end 



24 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

of the war, when he returned to his native State 
safe and well. 

A lady, wishing to say something flattering of 
him to a visitor, remarked: ''Why, he was shot 
right in his back ". Seeing the boy wince at this 
innocent imputation, I explained that he had re- 
ceived that shot in the breast while facing the 
enemy in battle. 

Among many incidents of his early army life, 
Allan Foote told me the following : 

" I shall never forget his expression when my 
father gave his written consent to my enlistment in 
the army in April of '6i, as he handed it to me and 
said, while tears were running down his cheeks, 
' My son, do your duty, die if it must be, but never 
prove yourself a coward.' We can hardly imagine 
at what cost that was given, and it is now a source 
of much satisfaction to me to know that God in His 
mercy so guided me while in the service that no 
action of mine has ever caused a pain to my father's 
heart, and when I returned at the close of the war 
he seemed as proud of my scars as I was." 

John Sherman was a remarkable case of lost iden- 
tity. He was eighteen years of age, six feet in 
height, with broad shoulders and a Washingtonian 
head, and seemed like some great prone statue as 
he lay perfectly helpless but for one hand, — a gentle 
fair-haired boy to whom we became much attached. 
He was evidently refined, and perfectly clear on re- 
ligious and political subjects. Though without a 
wound he had been completely paralyzed by con- 



LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL 25 

cussion caused by a cannon. He could take only 
infants' food and drank milk, which was all the 
nourishment he could retain. The mystery was 
that he claimed to come from Cattaraugus County, 
N. Y., but when I wrote letters to every possible 
locality, nothing could be learned of such a boy; 
nor could the officers of his regiment trace him dur- 
ing this time. Some scamp who claimed to come 
from his town, was admitted through the careless- 
ness of the hospital attendants, and so deceived the 
poor boy that he gave him ninety dollars army pay 
just received, to send home to his father. Of course 
the scamp was never heard of again. My theory is 
that he enlisted under an assumed name and town, 
and had, after the concussion, forgotten his real 
name and identity. He was sent to the Fifty- 
second Street hospital, where I saw him a year later, 
walking alone and quite well, — a finely developed 
physical form. Though he knew me, he held to 
his old statement. Later he was cruelly persuaded 
to ask for a discharge which left him homeless, with 
no refuge but the poor house. 

Soldiers' homes were then unknown; and I fear 
that, at least for a while, he was cared for as a 
pauper. About this time I went to the " field 
work " and lost sight of him, though I have often 
wondered what his fate has been. 

A miserably thin, gaunt boy, whom we knew as 
" Say ", came under my observation. He was 
never satisfied, though he ate enormously, and 
whenever we passed through his ward he invariably 



26 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

shouted : " Say ! ye ain't got no pie nor cake, nor 
cheese, nor nuthin', hev ye? " When he reached 
home, his father, a farmer, sent to the hospital the 
largest cheese I ever saw. This the men all craved ; 
but it was a luxury denied them by the doctors. 
Patients often had it smuggled in. One poor fel- 
low was found dead, one morning, with a package 
of cheese under his pillow. 

As the " L. I. C. H." was a city hospital, emer- 
gency and other cases were often brought in. A 
pathetic case was that of a little boy about six years 
old, who had been run over by a street car. As he 
lay, pale and mangled, awaiting the time to have his 
leg amputated, his mother, in broken English, 
crooned and mourned over the unconscious child, 
saying, "Ach, mine liddle poy, he will nefer run mit 
odder poys in the street and haf not any more good 
times." I saw that the child would not live through 
the operation, and tried to comfort the poor mother 
while it was going on. When the mutilated, stark 
little form was returned to her, her grief knew no 
bounds, though she still believed he would revive. 

In another ward poor Isaac was slowly dying of 
dysentery, gasping for a drink of cool water, which 
the rules of the profession at that day denied to 
such patients. Day after day he lay helpless, while 
a large water cooler dripped constantly day and 
night before his feverish eyes and parched body. 

One day he called to me and said : " Won't you 
please sit on my cot so I can rest my knees against 
your back? They are so tired and I can't hold 



LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL 27 

them up ", — poor fleshless bones that had no 
weight. Somewhat relieved while I sat there he 
went on : " Now, Miss Smith, you think I am dy- 
ing, don't you? '* 




ADELAIDE W. SMITH, 1863 



" Well, Isaac," I replied hesitatingly, *' we fear 
you are." 

Then with all the strength of his poor skeleton 
body, he exclaimed, " O then, give me a drink of 



28 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

water that I may die easier. You know I am dy- 
ing, so it can do no harm." 

Could I refuse a dying man a drink of water, 
even in the face of orders ? He wanted " just a 
pint ". Watching my chance I went quickly to the 
cooler and brought a glass of cool water. With 
unnatural strength he raised himself and, reach- 
ing out for the glass, grasped it and swallowed 
the water with one great gulp. Then returning 
the empty glass he cried : " There, that was just 
half! O, give me the other half." This I did, 
rather fearfully. After greedily drinking the water 
he dropped back with a sigh of relief, saying — 
" Now I can die easy ". I arranged quietly with 
my patients in the ward so that he could have water 
as long as he lived ; but not many days after I found 
his empty cot. 

The hospital, at that time, was little known, be- 
ing quite obscured under the limitations of two 
conservative, retrogressive old doctors, who 
showed no favor or sympathy for the sick men, 
and seemed to see them only as probable " sub- 
jects ". 

Many just protests from the kindly women work- 
ers were utterly disregarded by these doctors. Dr. 
Colton, a handsome young man then an interne, 
though not of age or yet graduated, found himself 
often between the '* upper and nether millstones " 
of the urgency of volunteer workers, and the im- 
movable, implacable heads of the hospital. Dr. 
Colton, now a successful retired physician, occupies 



LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL 29 

a prominent position in this hospital which, in late 
years, is ranked among the very best of Brooklyn's 
institutions. 

Meanwhile the people grew tired of the continual 
demand for supplies, toward which the hospital 
contributed very little, though it drew regularly 
from the government " rations " in the form of 
thirty-seven cents per day for each man. Conse- 
^quently public contributions became very meagre. 

Then in the autumn came ninety-one sick and 
wounded soldiers, who stood — or dropped — 
on the grass plots surrounding the hospital while 
waiting to be enrolled. A procession of grey skel- 
etons, they were ghastly, dirty, famished, with 
scarcely the semblance of men. One of them 
stared at me rather sharply and, seeing that I ob- 
served it, said, " Excuse me, ma'am, I haven't seen 
a white woman before in many months, an' it seems 
good to look at you." 

It became difficult to get proper food in the hos- 
pital for the men. Some of the volunteers, like 
myself, could still give their whole time and thought 
gratuitously, and we continued bringing supplies 
from our homes for special cases. My mother sent 
gallons of shell clam juice, — the most healing of 
all natural tonics when boiled in the shell, — which 
became popular in the hospital. My mother also 
invited companies of four or five convalescents at a 
time to " a good square meal ", when they always 
chose for their suppers, coffee, buckwheat cakes 
and sausages. Two gallons of batter would be- 



30 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

come hot cakes; and it took the combined help of 
the whole family and the cook to keep them sup- 
plied; but the hungry boys were at last satisfied 
and happy. I had no difficulty in obtaining passes 
for them, as they felt in honor bound to return 
promptly to the hospital. 

One poor fellow, dying of typhoid, was so irri- 
table and profane to the ignorant, heartless men- 
nurses of the hospital, that they would not care for 
him during the night. Realizing that the end was 
near, and feeling certain that he would otherwise 
die alone, I decided one night to remain with him 
until his last breath. Just before he died, even 
while the pallor of death overspread his face, he 
struck at the nurse whom I had compelled to stay 
near to help him. At last the poor dying man 
gasped : '' Lift me up higher ! higher ! higher ! ! " 
We raised the poor skeleton as high as we could 
reach, — and it was all over. His family refused 
his body, saying, " He was no good to us in life, 
why should we bury him? " It is not difficult to 
imagine that his home influences had been unfa- 
vorable to the development of moral character. 

Clancy, then a fine looking, kindly policeman, 
had waited to take me home near morning, as he 
did on other occasions of this kind. 

Some months later, being almost the only young 
woman still visiting the hospital, I felt obliged to 
report to that rarely good man, Mr. McMullen, — 
whose benevolence and generosity had at first 
brought the patients to the hospital and to the care 



LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL 31 

of the people, — the neglect of soldiers, who were 
then treated like charity patients. He immediately 
reported these conditions to the medical depart- 
ment, and the men were removed to the govern- 
ment hospitals, which were by this time system- 
atized and in good running order. 

After the patients had been transferred from the 
Long Island College Hospital, I secured a pass on 
the steamboat Thomas P. Way, to visit hospitals 
of the '' Department of the East ", in charge of 
Surgeon McDougall, a thorough disciplinarian, 
and a just, kind man. 

David's Island, on the Sound, had a finely con- 
ducted hospital, with a diet kitchen in charge of 
ladies. There I saw hundreds of well-fed, happy 
Confederate patients, so many, indeed, that they 
could not be supplied at once with proper clothing, 
and so made a unique appearance as they walked 
about in dressing gowns, white drawers, and slip- 
pers. They were soon to be exchanged for our 
own poor skeleton "Boys" who were coming home 
slowly and painfully, some dying on the way, to be 
met by kindly hands and aching hearts eagerly 
awaiting them. 

Fort Schuyler Hospital, on the East River, was 
formed like a wheel, the hub being headquarters 
and the spokes extending into wards for patients. 
One young man of much refinement had been at 
one of our home suppers, and afterwards the com- 
pany made a pact that if we were alive one year 
from that date we should hear each from the other. 



32 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

He exclaimed — '' Dead or alive, you shall hear 
from me!" Being a spiritualist he believed this: 
possible. He was sent to Fort Schuyler and one: 
month later died of small-pox. At the appointed 1 
date and hour a year later, I thought of this pact 
and tried to put myself in a receptive state. I didi 
not, however, see him nor feel any manifestation! 
of his spirit. 



BEDLOE'S ISLAND 



CHAPTER III 
BEDLOE'S ISLAND (NOW LIBERTY) 

A NUMBER of influential ladies of New York 
City had formed a society named " Park 
Barracks Association'*. By permission of the 
Mayor, barracks were put up in the City Hall Park 
for temporary accommodation of soldiers. But 
of that particular work I knew very little. These 
ladies had, however, extended their benevolence to 
Bedloe's Island. They had, somehow, heard of my 
work, and a committee waited upon me with an in- 
vitation to accompany them, by the Thomas P. 
Way, on its regular trip to the department hospitals 
on the river, including Bedloe's Island, three and a 
half miles down New York Bay, where they wished 
me to take charge of their " diet kitchen ". Fort 
Wood still stands on one side of the island, little 
changed since 1862. At that time twenty wards 
were filled with about eighty patients. 

The first floor of the square brick building on the 
New York side was used as a dispensary, and the 
diet kitchen was also located here. On the second 
floor were the quarters of sick officers, occupied at 
that time by only one officer who had been wounded 
at Antietam. Comfortable rooms on the third 
floor became my apartments. 

Each lady had a different opinion concerning the 
management of the kitchen, and urged the wisdom 



34 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

of her particular plan. I soon discovered, however, 
that Surgeon Campbell, in charge of the hospital, 
had been so annoyed by the irregular work of these 
ladies, that he had threatened to close the kitchen. 
Small wonder, when a different lady came each 




SURGEON CAMPBELL 



week and spent most of her time in undoing the 
work of her predecessor! They were extremely 
anxious to have me take charge at once, but I 
asked for twenty-four hours in which to consider, 
though my mind was already made up. This being 



BEDLOE'S ISLAND 35 

a volunteer work, I wrote the next day, saying that 
I would take charge of the kitchen on one condi- 
tion — namely, that I should have no interference 
or direction from any member of the Association. 
This they thought rather severe, but it was my 
ultimatum. They were glad to accept my terms, 
however, in order that they might continue their 
benevolent work on the island. 

The day after I took charge, Surgeon Campbell 
came into the kitchen for inspection and stood 
aghast at the " confusion worse confounded ". I 
was standing on a chair in a closet, throwing in 
heaps on the floor endless packages from the 
shelves. I laughed at his despairing expression, 
and said, " Doctor, do not expect any order within 
three days, till these incongruous piles are classi- 
fied ". There were shoes and cornstarch, " trig- 
ger " finger gloves and dried apples, shirts and 
beans, " feetings " and comfort bags, and so on ad 
infinitum. 

The clothing supplies I now separated from the 
food donations, and had them sent up to my rooms, 
where, later, the men came with their demands, or 
with written orders from the ladies, one or more of 
whom came every day. I soon discovered that, 
owing to a lack of system, some of the men had 
succeeded in getting four shirts instead of one ; but 
I concluded that they were four times colder than 
their warmer-hearted comrades. 

At last out of confusion came order. With the 
help of Surgeon Campbell I planned a printed list, 



36 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

lacking only the addition of the date, name of sur- 
geon, and number of ward to which were to be 
added each day's orders. I went over this at night, 
frequently adding extras, and in the morning it was 
sent to the different wards when the ward masters 
came for breakfast. The doctors then selected the 
proper diet for their patients, and the list was re- 
turned before ten o'clock. 

Four detailed soldiers acted as cooks and help- 
ers. Andrew, a practical, kindly Scotchman, be- 
came head cook; and altogether we were much 
gratified by our good fare. Our success along this 
line was made easier by liberal government sup- 
plies, and the generous donations of the Associa- 
tion, which gave me "carte blanche " for special 
cases. Our system worked admirably. When the 
dinner bugle sounded, the ward masters ran with 
their trays and pails; the first in order calling out 
his ward number as he entered. I read aloud from 
one of the twenty lists, which varied slightly each 
day, and were kept hanging in a row. For ex- 
ample : 

" ORDER FOR SPECIAL DIET 

U. S. Convalescent Hospital 

Fort Wood 

1863 

Ward Dr 

Dinner, Supper, Breakfast, Remarks 

Tea 

Cocoa 

Coffee 

Etc., etc. 

Ward. . . .coffee for 6, tea 5, chicken 7, roast beef 
10, whisky punches 5, egg nogs, etc." 



BEDLOE'S ISLAND 37 

The cook served meats and vegetables, one 
served tea, coffee or milk in pails, while I managed 
the jellies, stimulants, etc. We soon reduced the 
time of distribution for eighty patients to fifteen 
minutes. 

When Surgeon McDougall, in charge of the de- 
partment, came with his staff to inspect our kitchen, 
they waited till all was served to the ward masters, 
and then he said : " Miss Smith, you have the best 
conducted kitchen in the Department." Having 
had little experience in cooking, this was a very 
pleasant surprise. The inspection was continued 
by a member of the staff passing his white-gloved 
hand over the range and sides of the iron kettles, 
etc., which the men kept so clean that they left no 
trace. The men were also made happy by the ap- 
proval of the inspectors. 

In addition to this we made large puddings for 
the twenty wards, ten each day being all that our 
ovens could hold. 

At the suggestion of Surgeon Campbell, a cour- 
teous Scotch gentleman and strict disciplinarian, I 
wore a dress of officers' blue with infantry buttons, 
medical cadet shoulder straps with green bands 
and gilt braid in the centre. 

The Thomas P. Way came daily at lo A. M. 
bringing ladies of the Association and many other 
visitors. Andrew had learned to make " perfect 
cocoa", which I had served to the guests in my 
rooms, where, from the large windows, they en- 



38 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

joyed the fine view of Long Island, New Jersey 
and New York shores. 




LIBERTY 



This was before the days of " Liberty Island ", 
which later was made immortal by the rgift oi the 



BEDLOE'S ISLAND 39 

French people and the great sculptor Bartholdi, 
whose heroic statue was to have been completed 
for the great centennial fair of 1876. Failing to 
accomplish this in time, he sent to Philadelphia the 
arm holding the torch which now lights the bay, 
and is a well known signal light to incoming ves- 
sels. While in Philadelphia, attending the exposi- 
tion, with seven friends I climbed the narrow lad- 
der in the arm, and all were able to sit in the circle 
of the great torch, now upheld by " Liberty '*. 

DAILY ROUTINE 

Each morning I awoke at George's call — " Ha'f- 
a-pas-seex'\ Andrew would send up a good break- 
fast for two, as there was always some lady friend 
or one of my younger sisters to keep me company 
at night. No other woman except the wives and 
friends of the officers at the fort were allowed to 
remain on the island. The cooks soon learned to 
manage the men's breakfast without me. 

At eight o'clock A. M. a dozen or more men came 
to my door with orders from the ladies for under- 
wear and many comforts. George, who did the 
work of a chambermaid, having cleared up my re- 
ception room (I did my own sleeping room) I then 
descended into the kitchen and immersed myself in 
the work of making jellies and other delicacies, 
while I had four disabled soldiers preparing meats, 
vegetables, etc. 

At ten A. M. came the boat, bringing guests for 
luncheon, when we had officers, sisters of charity. 



40 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

clergymen, and friends of the patients to entertain, 
all of whom needed advice or a pleasant word. 
This caused many interruptions ; but was a pleasant 
break in the monotony of hospital life. 

The visitors left on the four P. M. boat. I then 
inspected the various wards and discovered many 
delinquencies on the part of the men nurses of 
which the patients were afraid to complain. Occa- 
sionally there was time for a walk around the sea 
wall, and then came the men's supper at five P. M. 

At six dinner was served in my reception room 
for my friends and myself, and Andrew insisted 
upon its being a good one. After that officers and 
their ladies sometimes called. 

When the wind howled and the waves dashed 
high against the sea wall, we could see the twink- 
ling lights of the city while we sat talking and rest- 
ing till '* taps ". Then came George to attend to 
his wonderful coal fires in very large open grates, 
which never burned low or dropped ashes on the 
bright polished hearth. His greatest reward was 
a pleasant word about the fires and he would smile 
in happiness. Then he brought a bucket of salt 
water fresh from the bay for my nightly bath, after 
which we retired to our comfortable cots, where 
we slept restfully till awakened by the usual '' Ha'f- 
a-pas-seex ". 

I remember an incident in which human per- 
versity strongly asserted itself. General Wool, 
then Commander of the Department of the East, 
sent an order that '' No one be allowed to leave the 



BEDLOE'S ISLAND 41 

island till further orders ". It was suspected that 
spies were stealing information from the forts. No 
one was permitted to go even aboard the boat 
which brought daily supplies. 

At once we felt ourselves prisoners, and an irre- 
sistible desire to escape to the city haunted me 
every hour of the day. I was actually planning to 
elude the guards and to be rowed in a little boat to 
the city, — three and one-half miles from the 
island, — when the order was revoked, and I sud- 
denly discovered that I had no urgent object for 
making the trip. 

The post chaplain drew very few to his services. 
One patient remarked " We can sleep much better 
in our cots than in the chapel *'. One Sunday after- 
noon, after considerable effort, I succeeded in 
raising a quartette among the non-commissioned 
officers. I then went to all the wards, urging the 
men to come to our services, promising them some 
good old-time hymns. The chaplain was much 
surprised and gratified at this sudden increase in 
his congregation, and this improvement was main- 
tained till most of the patients had left the island. 

At last orders were read for all convalescents to 
report to their regiments. This quite emptied the 
wards and took my staff of domestic helpers. I 
had a busy time supplying the Boys with necessary 
articles and luxuries, and " comfort bags " contain- 
ing sewing material were in great demand! In 
some of these were found letters that led to cor- 
respondence and in many cases to romance. 



42 REMINISCENCES OF'AN ARMY NURSE 

As the " Way " left the wharf, these grateful 
men expressed their thanks by rousing cheers to 
the surgeons and nurses who had taken such good 
care of them. Then came three more cheers for 
the kind ladies who had given them so many lux- 
uries and comforting words. Being the only lady 
present I waved a hearty good-bye for all these 
kindly women. 

My work there was practically over, as the few 
patients who were left could be supplied from the 
regular mess hall, so I returned to my home in 
Brooklyn. 

Some days later I crossed Fulton Ferry and, to 
my surprise, found Broadway deserted. The draft 
riot was spreading. From the 13th to the i6th of 
July, 1863, the streets were practically given over 
to a crowd of hoodlum boys brandishing clubs and 
sticks, rushing wildly and howling " Niggers, nig- 
gers ! Hang the niggers ! " They did hang some 
to lamp posts. Negro shanties were fired and oc- 
cupants driven into the flames. A colored orphan 
asylum was attacked and burned. One poor fellow 
was chased for miles, and at last he jumped into a 
pool of water, preferring to drown rather than to 
be hanged or beaten to death. This riot, the most 
disgraceful and cowardly of all horrible crimes that 
ever disgraced modern New York City, resulted in 
the death of nearly one thousand people, mostly 
negroes, and was incited by two copperheads whose 
names should be abhorred forever. 

A handsome boy patient of about seventeen 



BEDLOE'S ISLAND 43 

years attached himself to me, much to my annoy- 
ance, and I found it difficult to give him the atten- 
tion he desired. At last, however, to my great re- 
lief, he was ordered to report to his regiment, 
whence he wrote frequently. About six months 
later, to my astonishment, he came to my home, 
saying, " I was so homesick I just had to come, 
and I ran away without asking for a furlough ". 
Of course he was liable to arrest as a deserter, and 
it cost me much persuasion and insistence at mili- 
tary headquarters, to convince them that the boy 
was ignorant of the treachery of his act. But 
finally, after much advice, he started for his regi- 
ment with a return pass. About a year later he 
wrote asking my advice as to his marrying '' a very 
nice girl ", as he thought " an economical wife 
could help him to save money ", — on twelve dol- 
lars a month, forsooth ! 



44 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER IV 

THE GREAT MANHATTAN FAIR OF THE 
U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION, 1864 

" Yet Thou wilt hear the prayer we speak, 
The song of praise we sing — 
My children, who Thine Altar seek 
Their grateful gifts to bring. 



" Lo ! for our wounded brothers' need, 
We bear the wine and oil ; 
For us they faint, for us they bleed, 
For them our gracious toil ! " 

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. 

WHILE the devastations of Civil War were 
sending thousands of our brave men to 
die, and to sleep in distant graves, inade- 
quate relief for sick and wounded soldiers also 
caused much unnecessary suffering and loss of life. 
Lacking more prompt means of assistance, supplies, 
surgeons, nurses, et cetera, could reach them only 
through the slow process of military regulations. 

With the hope of supplying this most urgent 
need, the great Manhattan fair of the United States 
Sanitary Commission was suggested, and later or- 
ganized by the efforts of the Rev. Doctor Bellows of 
New York City. He became its president, and, 
with other gentlemen as a committee, went to 
Washington to consult military and hospital de- 
partments as to some feasible manner of supple- 
menting this most necessary branch of the United 
States service. 



THE GREAT MANHATTAN FAIR 45 

The congregation of All Souls* Church, of which 
Dr. Bellows was pastor, at once voted that the 
$40,000 that had been appropriated for a church 
steeple should be donated to the great Fair. The 
steepleless church stands to-day, a monument to 
their practical benevolence. 

Their beneficent intention resulted in the erection 
of an immense wooden building at Union Square 
and Fourteenth Street, New York City, for a great 
bazaar. The opening took place on April 14th, 
1864, the Honorable Joseph Choate delivering an 
address. An original poem by Oliver Wendell 
Holmes was sung by a union of many volunteer 
church choirs, before a vast multitude. The verses 
at the head of this chapter are selected from the 
poem. 

The building was practically overflowing with 
the number of enormous donations that had no 
precedent, nor has any later benevolence in our 
country ever equalled this cheerful, spontaneous 
outpouring of money and salable goods, from all 
classes and individuals, merchants and dealers of 
every grade. These gifts of every description 
were piled high on shelves and in beautifully ar- 
ranged booths, where charming young girls and 
earnest bright-eyed women competed in the selling 
of them to hundreds of eager buyers. Wealthy, 
generous patrons vied with one another in liberal 
purchases and donations, while those of smaller 
means were also happy in giving their mites to 
swell the enormous sums that astonished even the 



46 REMINISCENCES dF AN ARMY NURSE 

sanguine organizers. Many others, having no 
means to spare, volunteered their entire time and 
services to any department needing them, however 
laborious or unpleasant. And here they worked 
cheerfully every day until midnight during the 
three weeks of the fair, unconscious of weariness. 
Probably in no other bazaar were there ever such 
tireless workers, generous donors, or enthusiastic 
buyers. The united beneficence, patriotism and 
good will of these people poured into the treasury 
of the Sanitary Commission the enormous amount 
of two million dollars. This great sum for those 
days enabled the Commission to perfect an organ- 
ization unparalleled in scope and efficiency, with a 
corps of faithful, honorable workers. 

Like the Red Cross, which came to us later from 
Switzerland, this commission was immune from 
attack after battles. Often following the army 
closely, its representatives were able to set up 
temporary hospitals more quickly and efficiently 
with their independent supplies, army wagons and 
even transportation for special duty, than could be 
done by the regular army routine. Later my op- 
portunity for knowing their work for soldiers was 
unusual. Being the only person in the hospital 
camp in the field working independently, without 
pay for any service, and provided with a pass from 
United States Army's Headquarters, the commis- 
sion claimed that I was entitled to my living and 
any supplies I might require for the sick. 

The relation here of an instance of personal ex- 



THE GREAT MANHATTAN FAIR 47 

perience will give some idea of the capability and 
prompt action of the commission immediately after 
the close of the war, and at almost the last moment 
of its field work, at City Point, Virginia. 

The armies of the James and Potomac were 
ordered to Washington as speedily as transporta- 
tion would permit. They were to take part in the 
grand review and were to be mustered out of 
service. The sick were also carried to Washing- 
ton hospitals as soon as they were able to sail on 
the transports now crowding the docks of City 
Point. The headquarters of the United States 
Armies in the field had some time previously been 
transferred to Washington, where, still later, I 
often saw General Grant, always silent and smok- 
ing, except when in the presence of ladies. 

General Russell, with his colored troops, was 
left in command at City Point to finish up the 
Government work there. Surgeon Thomas Pooley, 
later a distinguished oculist, of New York City, 
had been left in charge of the almost abandoned 
field hospital. Barracks and tents were dis- 
mantled, canvas roofs were removed and " turned 
in " to the Government, leaving only stockade 
walls, much useless camp furniture, and debris of 
all sorts that it would have been unprofitable to 
ship north. 

Into these roofless wards swarmed crowds of 
destitute '' contrabands " from the surrounding 
country and from Petersburg, eight miles distant, 
and settled down like flocks of crows. They found 



48 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

many things that were treasures to them among 
the abandoned supplies and rations upon which 
they subsisted until the government could devise 
some plan to save these helpless wandering 
creatures from starvation. 




SURGEON THOMAS POOLEY 



The word contraband as applied to negroes was 
first used May 23d, 1861, by General Ben Butler, 
soon after taking command of Fortress Monroe, 
when three slaves escaped from work on a Confed- 
erate fort, near by, and came across the river in a 
boat asking protection. The owner sent for them 



THE GREAT MANHATTAN FAIR 49 

by flag of truce. General Butler decided that tho 
not strictly legal that as a war measure he was 
justified as they were property to their owners and 
that with all other property used against the Union 
they were " contraband of war ", and refused to 
give them up. The number of runaway slaves to 
the fort " increased to $60,000 worth of negroes ", 
who were put to work for the Union army, — 
many of whom enlisted and served faithfully till 
the end of the war. 

At that time I was the only white woman in 
camp, waiting for orders to report to the New 
York State agency in Washington. A kind 
motherly old colored " auntie " seemed to consider 
me merely a child, and constantly followed me 
about, watched over me, and became my general 
guardian. General Russell kept a guard of four 
colored soldiers, with stacked arms, night and day, 
about my quarters for my safety. 

I was about to start for Washington when we 
were surprised by a belated regiment, — of the 
6th corps, I think, — of sick men toiling wearily 
into the deserted hospital camp, now in confusion 
as if a raid had torn everything asunder. There 
was not a furnished bed or bunk for these poor 
sick discouraged men to lie upon, nor was there 
any food for their famished bodies as they dropped 
upon the bare ground exhausted, almost fainting. 

I still had the use of an ambulance, and in this 
emergency hastily ordered the driver to take me 
to City Point, one-half mile distant, for help. 



50 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Fortunately the Sanitary Commission barge, 
loaded with surplus supplies, had not started, but 
was just about to cut loose, when I informed them 
of the destitution and helplessness of the sick 
stranded soldiers. 




J. YATES PEEK 



Mr. J. Yates Peek, formerly of the 147th New 
York Infantry, at once reversed orders, unpacked 
supplies, and put his men to work. By night the 
barracks were covered with canvas roofs; com- 
fortable beds were made of fresh hay, and the men 
were fed. The " contrabands " cheerfully as- 



THE GREAT MANHATTAN FAIR 51 

sisted me in preparing food and caring for the 
famished men. I think Doctor Pooley was the 
only surgeon in camp. Contrabands helped, in 
their rude way, to nurse the helpless, and a little 
camp sprang up and remained until the men were 
able to travel and get transportation to Washing- 
ton. There was probably no better work done by 
this great organization than that by the belated 
company of agents of the United States Commis- 
sion in that emergency. Without their help and 
supplies these men must have suffered keenly, and 
perhaps have died before relief could have been 
sent back from Washington on an unprecedented 
requisition, and the necessary " red tape " regu- 
lations complied with. 

Another personal experience comes to mind. 
Months after the war, at their New York City 
Headquarters, when all liabilities of the Sanitary 
Commission had been met and field work dis- 
banded, there was still a considerable balance in 
the treasur5^ The money had been collected for 
a specific purpose, namely — for the benefit of 
sick soldiers. This need was now supplied by the 
Government in various hospitals and in temporary 
homes, but the surplus money could not legally or 
honorably be applied to any other benevolence. 
Finally it was agreed that soldiers' families were 
the legitimate heirs to this soldiers' fund. There- 
fore Mrs. Baldwin, a woman of great tact and 
capability, with myself, was asked to visit their 
families and judiciously assist the needy. Through 



52 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

that unusual bitterly cold winter of '65 and '66 we 
visited and assisted many of them. With the ad- 
vent of warm weather the last dollar was expended, 
and the official life of this great beneficent work 
ended. Through it thousands of lives were saved, 
and many cheered and made comfortable. 

At the Brooklyn Sanitary Fair over $400,000 
were raised, and in Chicago and the West, that had 
led in this great movement, chiefly through the 
efforts of women, the amounts were astonishing. 
Through the great heart of the people, from all 
sources over $25,000,000 came into the treasury 
of the Sanitary Commission. 



NEW ENGLAND ROOMS 53 



CHAPTER V 
NEW ENGLAND ROOMS 

COLONEL FRANK HOWE, of the New 
England Rooms, on Broadway near Fulton 
Street, New York City, was the director of 
that Rest for stranded and sick soldiers, as well as 
for many helplessly wounded. Here I found many 
of the most interesting cases of my experience. 
Colonel Howe felt that their contribution of 
wounded to the Sanitary Fair would be a more 
effective object-lesson and incentive, than inani- 
mate war emblems and relics displayed in the 
Arms and Trophy Department. Some of these 
crippled men were now waiting for Government 
to provide homes for those incapable of self- 
support. 

Colonel Howe thereupon secured free passes for 
a number of convalescents, and I consented to take 
charge of them during the fair. Consequently, 
one bright day, the New England ambulance was 
crowded with the following passengers, namely: 
one man without legs, two men without arms, one 
blind from a shot passing through his head, a one- 
legged boy, the famous John Burns of Gettys- 
burg, and a colored woman to assist. I sat on the 
front seat with the driver. We drove up Broad- 
way to the fair grounds, quite regardless of the 
curious crowd that followed. 



54 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

These brave martyrs were received with out- 
stretched hands and cordial sympathy, and given 
the freedom of every department in the wonderful 
exhibition. In a splendid restaurant I volunteered 
to act as waiter, that I might be certain that the 
Boys had good meals and attention, for which the 
Sanitary Commission made no charge. 

A crowd followed armless Berry who carried on 
his strong back legless Smith, — who in turn 
dressed and fed Berry. These two had become 
great friends and, like the Siamese twins, were in- 
separable. Always cheerful, they seemed to enjoy 
life. Smith was a good penman and wrote me in- 
teresting letters, of which I still have some, gen- 
erally signed " Berry and Smith ". Berry often 
carried the legless man about the large building to 
see the wonders which they greatly enjoyed. 

Another armless soldier, a sergeant always in 
uniform, travelled about alone, and when in cars or 
boats was rarely asked for fare, or if so, he would 
say : " Help yourself from my pockets ". Few had 
the heart to do this, so he usually travelled free. 

McNulty, a refined young man, who had lost an 
arm in an early engagement, but was now quite 
well, was also of our party, though he was quite 
independent and asked no help, having already 
learned, like General Howard, to use his left arm 
for writing and to serve double duty. 

Famous John Burns was included with those 
mentioned above in the freedom of the whole 
building, and at seventy years of age called himself 



NEW ENGLAND ROOMS 



55 



one of my '* Boys ". The following is copied from 
a card which he had printed to " save so much 
talk ", and which he claimed was a true history of 




McNULTY 



his experience and help in the renowned battle of 
Gettysburg. This card he gave me personally. 

JOHN L. BURNS' ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF 

" I was born in Burlington, New Jersey, on the 

5th day of September, 1793. I served in the war 

of 1 812. At the outbreak of the Rebellion, I went 



56 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

with Captain McPherson to Camp Wayne, West- 
chester, where I enlisted, but was discharged at the 
end of a fortnight on account of my age. I re- 
turned to Gettysburg (my home at that time), 
then went to Hagerstown and served as assistant 
in the wagon camp for two weeks, after which, as 
a teamster, I joined the three months' boys under 
Patterson, with whom I remained a month. I 
then went to Frederick, and obtained the position 
of police officer in General Banks' division. I was 
present at the battle of Edward's Ferry, and saw 
Colonel Baker carried across the river. I remained 
with Colonel Banks for six months, and then re- 
turned home, where I was at the time of the bait- 
tle of Gettysburg. On the first day of the fight I 
met General Reynolds, who had been out recon- 
noitering, and was asked to show him the Em- 
mettsburg road. After doing this, I obtained a 
musket from a soldier who had been wounded 
while on guard, and went off to the army * to shoot 
some of the damned rebels '. I fell in with a Wis- 
consin regiment, and fought sometimes in line, and 
sometimes on my own hook. About one P. M., 
during an intermission, while lying in the woods, 
I saw a Missouri man fall from the shot of a rebel 
concealed in the bushes. I stepped behind a tree, 
and seeing the rebel about to reload, I shot him. 
I also shot a tremendous great rebel who would 
not get out of my way. I myself received seven 
balls on the first day of the fight, the last of which 
wounded me severely in the leg. I lay on the 



NEW ENGLAND ROOMS 



57 



field all night, and a rebel surgeon gave me water 
and a blanket. In the morning I crawled to a 
house near by, and about two P. M. succeeded in 
being taken to my own house, which I found 




JOHN BURNS 



occupied by the rebels as a hospital. Their doctor 
dressed my wound. On Friday, at two P. M. I 
was closely questioned by two rebel officers as to 
where I got my musket." 



58 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

I have also his photograph which he gave me, 
and from which, I believe, the life size figure of his 
statue was made. I saw him many times at my 
home in Brooklyn, and elsewhere, always wearing 
proudly the shabby old coat with bullet holes in 
the front corners. This is not given in the life size 
figure of the old hero on his monument at Gettys- 
burg Cemetery, where he stands without a coat 
with bared head, musket in hand, as if starting for 
the field of action. 

" And as they gazed, there crept an awe 
Through the ranks in whispers, and some men saw. 
In the antique garments and long white hair, 
The past of the nation, in battle there." 



ARMS AND TROPHY DEPARTMENT 59 



CHAPTER VI 

ARMS AND TROPHY DEPARTMENT OF THE 
SANITARY COMMISSION FAIR 

THIS department was beautifully draped with 
bunting, Revolutionary, Mexican and other 
old war flags, and also a few Confederate 
flags, captured by regiments, still in the field, that 
had yet many a bloody battle to fight. A number 
of distinguished, elegantly-gowned women toiled 
here indefatigably, brimming over with excitement 
and patriotism, quite regardless of the unusual 
fatigue of standing and working so many hours 
daily, in their anxiety to allow no one to pass 
without contributing in some way to the fund, now 
reaching thousands of dollars. 

Here was to be decided the " sword test ", that 
would indicate the most popular general, by the 
number of votes cast at one dollar each. The 
sword was to be presented to the winner of the 
largest number of votes. How these attractive 
ladies worked for their favorites! A magnetic 
thrill pervaded this room, where men of fashion 
and reputation crowded, ostensibly to learn how 
the vote was going. 

Mrs. Grant, a noble-looking woman, accepted 
graciously, but without solicitation, all who offered 
votes for General Grant, of whom she invariably 
spoke as " Mr. Grant ". Mrs. McClellan, with 



60 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

elegant society manner, lost no opportunity in 
gaining a vote for General McClellan ; her vivacity, 
personal charm, and courteous flattery won many 
a vote for her husband. I think if her son, our 






MAJOR-GENERAL AND MRS. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN 

ex-mayor, could have seen his mother at the height 
of her matured beauty he would have been justly 
proud. 

The polls were to close at midnight on the last 
day of the fair. Excitement ran high as the hour 



ARMS AND TROPHY DEPARTMENT 61 

approached. At ten minutes before the hour the 
McClellan vote was far ahead, and that party was 
already exulting, confident of success; but at five 
minutes before the final closing of the polls, the 
Union League, of Philadelphia, telegraphed, 
ordering " five hundred votes for Grant ", and the 
sword was his. 




UNION LEAGUE HOUSE 



Indignant Democrats pronounced this an act of 
treachery; an ominous dissent spread over the 
restless crowd, and for a time it seemed as if there 
might be some dangerous demonstration. Only 
the general refinement and restraint of the surging, 
self-respecting crowd prevented an outbreak. 

Mrs. McClellan was pitifully disappointed, as her 
vision of the White House grew dim ; and after the 
popular election of Grant, and the defeat of McClel- 



62 REMINISCENCES OP AN ARMY NURSE 

Ian, she indignantly declared that she would not 
live in such an ungrateful country. She actually 
lived abroad for some years but, like all good 
Americans, she was happy to return to enjoy the 
freedom of her own native land. 

In the month of February, 1909, I had the pleas- 
ure of seeing again, in the Smithsonian Museum at 
Washington, the veritable sword of that memor- 
able contest, which had been presented in April, 
1863. Other swords and equipments of General 
Grant were preserved in a large glass case. A 
silver head of Liberty formed the handle, set with 
diamonds, garnets and turquoises, the hilt and 
shield in bas-relief of a helmeted knight, the blade 
and scabbard highly wrought in oxidized silver and 
gold. The Chattanooga is the largest and finest 
of six or eight swords, all highly wrought and 
jewelled, which were presented by admiring friends 
at different dates to General Grant. 

At the beginning of the Fair I had obtained per- 
mission for the three men, Smith, Berry and 
Mudge, to remain in the trophy department, where, 
each day, many greenbacks were crowded into 
their pockets. I had asked Mesdames Grant and 
McClellan to head subscription lists and to solicit 
money for the three helpless soldiers. Both ladies 
cheerfully and effectively urged people to sub- 
scribe at one dollar each, and at the close of the 
last evening they were happy to hand over to me, 
to be divided among these living martyrs of our 
cruel war, the sum of about five hundred dollars. 



ARMS AND TROPHY DEPARTMENT 63 

A citizen, employed by the New England 
Rooms, had charge of the finances and of the safe. 
He came every night with the ambulance to take 
me and the mutilated men back to the New Eng- 
land Rooms to sleep. On this last night I handed 
him the great roll of five hundred one-dollar bills 
to carry home and put into the safe. Instantly, 
however, an impulse came to me, and I said : " Just 
let me look at that money to see if it is all right ". 
Grasping it firmly, I did not return it to the man, 
but carried it safely to the Rest, and kept it during 
the night. Before morning the scamp had robbed 
the safe and vanished, and of course was never 
more heard of. Was it telepathy or a finer psychic 
perception that saved the boys their money? 

A unique incident occurred at this Rest, to the 
great amusement of the Boys. I frequently stayed 
here all night with the capable matron, Mrs. Rus- 
sell, in her apartments on the top floor of this 
former store-house. One evening we were startled 
by unusual hilarity among the patients on the floor 
below. A great " well " was open through the 
middle of the building for the purpose of raising 
merchandise to the upper floors, and now it served 
as a fine ventilator. On stepping forward to the 
railing we saw to our astonishment three boys, 
each having lost a leg. They were great chums, 
always together, and sometimes the group was 
called " Three Legs ". Each was on a crutch, 
carrying in one hand an artificial government leg, 
and they were having a grotesque dance with these 



64 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

limbs and crutches. To the men it seemed very 
funny and caused roars of laughter, but I failed to 
find amusement in the gruesome antics of these 
boys, scarcely of age, crippled for life. 

Colonel Mrs. Daily, whom I met at the New 




THREE LEGS 



England Rooms, enjoyed the unique honor of 
having been appointed adjutant on the staff of 
Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island. Colonel 
Daily had just returned from a tour of inspection 
of Rhode Island regiments stationed near the front 



ARMS AND TROPHY DEPARTMENT 65 

and had also visited sick soldiers in different hos- 
pitals. She had prepared and published a general 
and statistical report of the condition of the men to 
present officially to Governor Sprague. 




COLONEL MRS. DAILY 

After my success in collecting funds for Mudge, 
Smith and Berry at the Sanitary Fair, I con- 
cluded to take them to the great exposition then 
being held at Philadelphia, but for some unex- 
plained reason my efforts to secure financial aid for 
them met with comparative failure. 



66 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

A handsome ambulance of the Wicacoe fire 
engine company had met us at Camden boat land- 
ing, Philadelphia, whence we were driven to the 
famous Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and 
Hospital, where a few cots for special cases had 
been set up in the private offices. Here these 
three men were warmly welcomed and made com- 
fortable during their visit. 

Mrs. Lincoln called there one day, and, after a 
pleasant talk, gave twenty dollars to each of the 
" Twins ". They seemed to appreciate her kindly 
words even more than her practical gift. 

When troops were approaching the city of Phila- 
delphia, the great " Liberty Bell " rang out a wel- 
come to coming regiments. Hundreds of kindly 
women, laden with good things, hastened to this 
large building, which was a cooper's shop, quickly 
set up rough tables, and spread their generous sup- 
plies ready for the hungry men. During the war 
thousands of men and many regiments halted here 
for '' a good square meal ", while passing through 
the city to the front. When the hungry Boys were 
rested and satisfied, they fell into line and marched 
away to the music of the jolly fife and drum, 
cheering and shouting their thanks, only ex- 
ceeded in sound by the deafening applause of the 
patriotic people waiting to see them off. This 
" shop ", by the generosity of its owners, and the 
unflagging patriotism of the women, became 
historical. Many full regiments remembered the 



ARMS AND TROPHY DEPARTMENT 67 

good things freely given by those who had not 
always an abundant living for themselves. 

The following is a verbatim copy of a letter 
written by one of the " Twins " from the Union 
Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and Hospital, gen- 




Lydi;',ii'iih^"!^:?§S 



^_tjif^' - , , , ------- 

«,. I Mion \o}iinl(M'r Hcfrcslimenl Saltx^ii (k lio!>]ji(al 

1'^ 




u 



"^ 



'co/, 






erally known as the Cooper Rest Hall, referred to 
above : 

" Philadelphia, June 22d, 1864. 

Miss Adelaide Smith: 
Dear Madam : — 

I have just received your kind and welcome letter 
and now hasten to reply. I am glad to hear of your 



68 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

safe arrival in New York, and regret that friend Mudge 
cannot exercise sufficient control over himself to pre- 
vent so much useless trouble to his friends but I an- 
ticipated as much. I hope the air of the Astor House 
will be congenial to him. Berry has been seeking the 
paper you refer to but has not yet gotten it. He will 
go out today and get it, if he can, and send it to you. 

Shortly after Berry went out with you, the day you 
left, Mrs Lincoln visited the Saloon and had a little 
talk with me (Smith) and a $20.00 bill was slipped into 
my hand. I believe there is $20.00 expected for Berry 
from the same source. 

With regard to pecuniary matters Philadelphia is 
looking up. In addition to the above donation I have 
received $25.00, and Berry about $20.00. Berry is out 
occasionally, hence the difference between us, but 
Berry will stay in the Saloon alongside of me and no 
doubt we will both share alike. 

Berry was walking along Chestnut Street on Mon- 
day when a man standing at a doorway stopped him, 
questioned him, did he know Miss Furness? Yes. 
Well Miss Furness has been everywhere trying to find 
us, wishing very much to see us. Miss Furness was 
then in the house. Berry was invited in to see her. 
She commenced the old story about the artificial arms 
and legs. We expect she will go to the fair and ped- 
dle out the rest of her old jewelry which will, she ex- 
pects, enable her to give us some fifteen or twenty 
thousand dollars each. In fact our expectations are 
raised to such a pitch and we are so sanguine of Miss 
Furness that we shall probably have a surplus of a few 
thousand, dear Madam for you, as a ' slight testimonial 
of our esteem and mark of our gratitude'; etc., etc. 
She has also a box full of artificial arms and legs. 

Will you please tell Price to forward all letters 
there may be in the hospital for Berry and me. Mr. 
Redner has not yet called. 

I hope Mr. D. will get my furlough extended, at 
any rate I shall stay here some time longer. We are 
getting along very comfortably. There is nothing 



ARMS AND TROPHY DEPARTMENT 69 

particular in the way of news. Berry and I went out 
sailing a day or two ago. 

All the good folks here beg to be remembered to 
you, Mr. Wade in particular. Our best regards to all 
our friends, Mr. D. especially, and believe us, dear 
Madam, 

Yours very gratefully, 
ALBERT A. SMITH and JOHN H. BERRY. 

P. S. If you have time, in case you pass through 
Philadelphia, to call and see us, it will afford us much 
pleasure." 

On our return to New York, as in going to 
Philadelphia, every one wished to lend a helping 
hand, but Smith clung to Berry, who carried him 
with ease, while the crowd cheered the courageous, 
independent fellows. On returning them safely to 
the New England Rooms, I longed to rest for a 
few days at my home in Bedford Avenue, Brook- 
lyn, but I found at the Rooms a slowly dying 
woman who greatly excited my sympathy. She 
had been brought from Washington, where she had 
contracted dysentery while nursing her son, who 
died soon after she reached him. She was on her 
way to her home in Worcester, Massachusetts. 
There was no proper place for the poor soul, and 
Colonel Howe was anxious to have her reach her 
home before she died, so I took charge of her, and 
we went by the Fall River Line. I sat beside her 
stretcher all night in the ladies' cabin, watching her 
pulse and constantly giving her stimulants or nour- 
ishment. At daybreak we reached Worcester, 
The man sent to assist me found an express wagon 
on which the stretcher was placed, and we all drove 



70 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

to a plain comfortable-looking house. Finding no 
responsible person about the place I took posses- 
sion of the parlor on the second floor, ordering a 
bed from another room. The feeble woman was 
then carried up and placed comfortably at rest in 
her own home. The doctor came and, against my 
earnest protest, insisted on stopping the stimu- 
lants at once, saying he knew her constitution 
better than I. When her husband appeared he 
showed no particular interest save to take posses- 
sion of her pocketbook, and I did not see him again. 
A Mr. and Mrs. Green showed much interest for 
the woman. They kindly took me to their home 
for rest. Later in the day I went back to see the 
fast failing woman, who died two days later, a 
victim to the conceit of an ignorant doctor. I en- 
joyed for a day or two the hospitality of the 
Greens, and I shall never forget their home-grown 
strawberries and cream. 



UNIQUE CASE OF WILLIAM MUDGE 71 



CHAPTER VII 

THE UNIQUE CASE OF WILLIAM MUDGE OF 
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. 

THIS narrow-breasted, delicate boy of about 
twenty-one years, enlisted in the Thirty- 
third Massachusetts Infantry, and, with his 
regiment, went into the battle of Chancellorsville 
on Sunday morning. May 2d, 1863. After once re- 
gaining the field they were defeated with consider- 
able loss in prisoners and many wounded. Mudge 
fell by a shot passing entirely through his head, 
cutting both optic nerves. A friend in the regi- 
ment from his city, tied a handkerchief about his 
head and left him to die, then ran to join his regi- 
ment, fearing capture by the enemy. As soon as 
a chance offered he wrote to Mudge's father, who 
was president of a Lynn bank, telling him that his 
son had been left dying on the battlefield. 

Mr. Mudge started at once to find the dead body 
of his son, and succeeded in reaching the Confed- 
erate lines, where they began to search for the 
body, which could not be found on the battlefield. 
The boy was at last discovered alive, lying 
neglected in the Confederate field hospital. 

It was often impossible for the surgeons and de- 
tailed nurses to care for all the wounded, and so 
they gave their time to those having a chance of 
living, which poor Mudge certainly did not seem to 



72 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

have. The gunshot wound had caused his face to 
turn quite black, so that his father, in hunting 
among the hopelessly wounded, did not recognize 
him ; but the boy knew his father's voice and called 




WILLIAM MUDGE 



out, and so was rescued from a slow death. Mudge 
told his story to me essentially as follows : 

'' I lay all night on the field, drenched by a 
shower (which often happens after a battle). In 
the morning Confederate soldiers were detailed to 



UNIQUE CASE OF WILLIAM MUDGE 73 

bury the dead, and were preparing to carry me to 
the open trench near by. When I spoke to them 
feebly they gave me water from a canteen, and left 
me, feeling sure I would die before morning. 
Imagine what a night that must have been! The 
brushwood near where I was lying took fire, and 
I narrowly escaped being burned to death. When 
the men came on the third day to bury the dead, I 
had become so weak I could only move my little 
finger to show life. The Johnnies then said — 
' This fellow is good stuff, let's take him in.' " 

It was easy for the father to get permission to 
take away this apparently dying prisoner. Going 
by easy stages to Washington, it was found on ex- 
amination that the boy was permanently blind and 
had lost an eye. His skull was said to have been 
fractured so that there were not two inches of solid 
cranium, the jaw bones and teeth were destroyed. 

Surgeons with much skill trepanned a hole in the 
skull with a silver plate, and with the assistance of 
skilled dentists, they manufactured jaw bones and 
teeth. They had fitted him with a glass eye, and 
green glasses to cover the defects, so that some 
months after, when I met him at the New England 
Rooms, he had the appearance of a well-dressed, 
refined, though rather frail blind man. 

During the fair I had taken care of him and 
walked him about the great halls explaining many 
things that he could not, of course, see or under- 
stand, and he came to consider my opinions final. 
He carried to his home in Lynn about three 



74 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

hundred dollars from the fair subscription and 
other benevolent sources. 

A few weeks later his mother wrote me, saying 
that William had become so unhappy and irritable 
that they could not manage him, and he had so 
often said that if Miss Smith were there, she would 
know what would make him more contented. 
Mrs. Mudge begged me to come, if only for a short 
visit. This I could not well refuse ; and I found a 
pleasant refined family in a comfortable home of 
their own. Mr. Mudge, William's father, was a 
gentleman and a bank president. I will digress 
here for a few words on an observation, quite sur- 
prising to me. Early on Sunday morning I saw 
Mr. Mudge and several other gentlemen coming up 
the street, each carrying a newspaper and two 
large bundles. This seemed quite strange, but 
was explained at breakfast by the inevitable down- 
east baked beans in a crock, and a loaf of hot brown 
bread which had been at the bake shop all night. 
It was the custom for gentlemen to bring them 
home on Sunday morning. Certainly they were 
delicious. Being of New York blood, I was not 
'' au fait " on the customs regarding baked beans 
and brown bread. 

William's mother told me that he was almost 
transformed when under my influence. His was a 
restless nervous temperament, and this, added to 
his blindness, made life miserable. His fastidious 
tastes and conventionality continued. One Sun- 
day, in church, he whispered, " Is my back hair 



UNIQUE CASE OF WILLIAM MUDGE 75 

parted straight? " — this being the style for men 
at that time. And again, '' Am I holding my 
prayer-book right side up? " He needed occupa- 
tion; but what could the blind boy do? 

Accidentally I saw in a newspaper an advertise- 
ment for young men to sell a book of the early 
history of the war, and I proposed to Mudge that 
he could sell this book. But his aristocratic ideas 
were hard to overcome, until I insinuated that he 
might have a valet to carry the books and take care 
of him. This modified his ideas on my suggestion. 

His memory of locality was surprising. When 
he escorted me to Boston " to see the town " he 
would say, " Now over there is the bird-cage (a 
shop) and there is the flat-iron sign, so we must go 
this way ". Only once he failed, and then he said 
we must go back to the bird-cage, after which we 
started again all right. 

I went with him to Boston, and had an inter- 
view with the agent, who was greatly pleased to 
have a martyr of the war to sell the book. I im- 
peratively urged Mudge to start at once, which he 
did with his valet the next day; when I also left 
Lynn. He wrote from memory in a good clear 
hand, with a little slat to guide his pen, of his 
phenomenal success, which was such as we ex- 
pected. During his tour about Massachusetts he 
called at the home of the poet Longfellow, who 
sent me a much prized photograph with his auto- 
graph. 

Many bought of the poor boy, out of sympathy 



76 



REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



and patriotism, this very imperfect book, which, 
doubtless, they never read. In the course of a year 
he again wrote that he had opened a stationery 
store in Lynn, and was doing a good business ; and 




HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW 

later he employed four clerks. Still later I was 
dumbfounded on receiving an announcement of his 
marriage. 

Three years after, when I visited their pretty 






UNIQUE CASE OF WILLIAM MUDGE 77 

cottage on Lynn Beach, near that of Fanny Daven- 
port the actress, William was not at home, but I 
saw his charming wife and their handsome, 
healthy boy of sixteen months. 



78 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



I 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE START FOR THE FRONT 

" Woman should take to her soul a strong purpose, 
and then make circumstances conform to that purpose." 

SUSAN B. ANTHONY. 

MY work for sick soldiers began early in 
1862, in the "Department of the East", 
which included Long Island Hospital, 
Willett's Point, David's Island, Fort Schuyler and 
Bedloe's Island (now Liberty) ; all of these hos- 
pitals being in charge of Surgeon McDougall. 

This extensive experience prepared me for work 
at the front, which, after many futile efforts, I 
could now reach through a society known as 
" Masonic Mission ", by which a pass was secured 
from General Ben Butler for myself and three as- 
sistant nurses, and which gave me the anxiously 
desired privilege and authority of going to the 
" front ", with these nurses, who were quite un- 
known to me. 

We sailed July 24th, 1864, o^ the Patapsco, a 
government transport that had carried sick soldiers 
to New York, and was returning to City Point for 
orders, and were the only passengers on board. 

Fatigue and the odor of bilge water induced in- 
tense " mal de mer ", which, added to insubordina- 
tion on the part of two of my assistants, caused 
the usual distress and despair. 



THE START FOR THE FRONT 79 

The atmosphere of my state room was intoler- 
able, and the captain kindly ordered a mattress 
placed on deck for me, where I was comparatively 
comfortable until I was obliged to stagger below 
on hearing of unseemly conduct on the part of the 
two nurses. I threatened, with good effect, to 
have the captain put them ashore at the first island 
we came to. Fortunately they did not know that 
we would sight no island on that short voyage. 
The third assistant, good Mrs. Dunbar, in her 
kindly, motherly way, was my only comfort. 

The captain had tried, in vain, to arouse me by 
an alarm that the Alabama was chasing us. But 
sea-sickness knows not even the law of self-preser- 
vation, and I replied, '' I'd as lief as not go down 
by the Alabama or in any other way." 

At night I refused to go below to my stateroom 
and bilge water odor, quite regardless of the cap- 
tain's perplexity. After some hesitancy, however, 
he gave me the only stateroom on deck. This was 
filled with the accoutrements of a Confederate 
officer whom, as a prisoner of war, the captain had 
just delivered over to the government prison at 
Fort Lafayette, in the narrows of New York Bay. 
I awoke at night in such perfect peace and comfort 
that for a time I imagined the Alabama had really 
run us down, and that I was now happy in heaven. 

My stateroom door had been left open for air, 
and, stepping out on deck, I found there was no 
motion or sound, save a soft ripple of water against 
the bow. A full perfect moon cast a broad silvery 



80 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

path across the quiet waters, so intense that it 
seemed quite possible that Jesus had indeed 
walked upon the Sea of Galilee. There was no 
one in sight, nor was there a sound of anything 
living or moving, though the " watch " probably 
saw me leaning over the railing. We had anchored 
at the mouth of the James River, waiting for the 
pilot. 

On the morning of July 29th, we again anchored, 
this time before City Point, Virginia, at the junc- 
tion of the James and Appomatox Rivers, head- 
quarters of the United States armies in the field 
under command of General Grant. 

I went ashore in a little boat with the captain, 
and reported to the Provost Marshall at headquar- 
ters, to show my pass from General Butler. The 
camp appeared rather shabby. There were only a 
few wooden buildings, used by army officers, a 
number of large tents and negro cabins, with 
guards and officers running from one tent to an- 
other. City Point was a barren, almost treeless 
country of untilled land. The United States flag 
floated over a small house used by General Grant 
as headquarters. 

A small narrow, cigar-shaped, back-wheel boat, 
the " Gazelle ", returned with me to the " Pa- 
tapsco ", and taking on board the three nurses we 
steamed up the narrow Appomatox River, a 
monotonous sail of six miles between low bluffs 
and sparse foliage, to the hospital tents at Point of 
Rocks, which were pitched on the very brink of 



THE START FOR THE FRONT 81 

this malarious stream. This was General Butler's 
Hospital Department of the James. 

For the first time I realized my strange position, 
and felt, when the " Patapsco " was out of sight, as 
if " I had burned my bridges behind me ". There 
were only half a dozen men and officers aboard. 
Feeling impelled to speak to a refined-looking man, 
wearing major's shoulder-straps, I found him very 
courteous. I remarked on my apprehension of the 
strangeness of the situation, and said if I could feel 
assured that the surgeon in charge of Point of 
Rocks Hospital was a gentleman, I should have 
nothing to fear. I asked the Major if he knew that 
officer ; he replied that he did, and thought I would 
find him a gentleman. 

On reaching Point of Rocks Hospital, the Major 
offered to go ashore and send an ambulance for us, 
and this took us a short distance to the hospital 
tent wards, and to a small frame house near to the 
Hospital Headquarters. 

I called a passing orderly and reported at once 
with my Butler pass, to the officer in charge, and 
found, to my consternation, while the color rose to 
the roots of my hair, that this man was the very 
Major to whom I had spoken on the boat. Rising 
and bowing politely he said, " Miss Smith, I trust 
you will always find me a gentleman ". 

It was well for me that he was a gentleman, for I 
found myself in a very anomalous position, having 
been sent by the Masonic Mission to take the place 
of Clara Barton, who was already in charge of this 



82 REMINISCENCES QF AN ARMY NURSE 

work, but away at the time. I soon discovered 
that the Masonic Mission had taken advantage of 
Miss Barton's absence and — quite without au- 
thority — had sent me to take her place. The 
Major, Surgeon Porter, however, courteously in- 
vited me to remain until her return. 

Meanwhile he had ordered a large tent put up for 
my assistants and, as a compliment, assigned me to 
a room at headquarters. But sleeping with a 
strange fat woman on a feather-bed, with windows 
closed on a hot July night was too much honor; 
so the next morning I asked to be allowed to go 
with the nurses in their large new tent, where, with 
a cot in each corner, we were quite comfortable. 
A small tent was attached for my mess-room, while 
the nurses ate at the " patients' mess ". 

General Butler's army headquarters of the De- 
partment of the James, was across the Appomattox, 
at Bermuda Hundreds, whence the rumbling of 
wagons and tramping of troops over pontoon 
bridges could be heard through the silence and 
darkness of the night. Of course I slept little on 
my first night in camp. 

The next night I was greatly distressed by 
groans and cries in the distance and, much excited, 
I went directly to Surgeon Porter, as early as al- 
lowable the next morning, to ask if I could do 
something for the suffering soldiers. Seeming sur- 
prised at my question he replied that he was not 
aware of such suffering in camp. He asked where 
the sounds came from, and as I indicated the direc- 



THE START FOR THE FRONT 83 

tion he said with a curious expression : " Well, 
Miss Smith, you may try if you wish, but the cries 
come from the mules in the corral, and I fear you 
will not succeed ". That joke followed me wher- 
ever I went. 

Surgeon Porter gave me charge of the officers* 
ward, of perhaps forty or more patients. Each 
officer having his own orderly in attendance, and 
the hospital being in very good running order, 
there was no unpleasant work for me to do. So at 
first I saw only the romantic side of " bathing 
feverish brows ", and giving comforting words, 
with some specially prepared diet. 

Not caring for society, or mere sentiment, I soon 
resolved to ask for a ward of private soldiers, who 
did not presume upon equality, though many of 
them were as truly gentlemen as were their officers. 

Meanwhile the three nurses, though untrained, 
like most nurses of that time, did good work in the 
wards of the regular soldiers. 



84 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER IX 
SOME PATIENTS 

POINT OF ROCKS HOSPITAL consisted of 
about a dozen tents, each perhaps fifty feet 
long, pinned as usual to the ground with 
wooden pegs. These contained bunks and cots on 
either side, for about forty or more patients to each 
tent, and sometimes, when crowded, patients had 
only straw or hay bags with a blanket on the bare 
ground, all of which the men nurses were expected 
to keep in perfect order and cleanliness. I 

To enter at one end of these tents and see the 
rows of sick and suffering, despondent men, at once 
aroused an earnest desire to help them to a little 
comfort and cheer. 

One day, passing through a long ward, I was 
startled by the sight of a little pinched face with 
great dark eyes, that looked as if its owner might 
be about ten or twelve years old. Stepping quickly 
to the cot I said, " Why, who are you, and where 
did you come from? " 

A feeble voice replied, " I'm Willie, I was here 
yesterday when you passed, but you didn't look at 
me. 

" But where did you come from? " 

" I belong to the 37th New Jersey Infantry, in 
camp a few miles off, and I got sick and they 
brought me here." 



SOME PATIENTS 85 

" How could you be enlisted? How old are 
you?" 

" I'm fifteen. I lied, and swore I was eighteen, 
and my parents wouldn't let me go, so I ran away, 
an' — an' I guess, I'll never see mother any more." 

The soldier nurse said he was a typhoid case, 
with a chance of living, if he could have good care, 
but that he would not be persuaded to eat. I re- 
turned to him at once, saying, " Willie, I hear that 
you don't eat anything ". 

" I can't eat." 

" O, but you must. Now, Willie, can't you think 
of something you'd like? " 

" Well," with a suppressed sob, '* if I could get 
anything like mother used to make, perhaps I 
could." 

" Now tell me, Willie, what it was, what did it 
look like, and how did it taste ? " 

The sick boy's description was not very clear, 
but I said cheerfully, " O, I can make that ", and 
ran off to my tent and soon prepared something 
which, with a silver cup, spoon, and a tidy serviette, 
at least looked inviting in contrast with the bat- 
tered tin cups and plates of camp life. He showed 
some interest as I said, '' Here, Willie, is just what 
mother used to make ". And he took a few spoon- 
fuls quite cheerfully as I fed him. I asked if it did 
not taste something like mother made. He thought 
it did. 

Feeling sure that only the greatest care would 
save him, I went at once to Surgeon Porter, saying. 



86 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

'' Doctor, I'd like to have that boy, Willie, for an 
orderly ". 

" What, another? " he replied, laughing. " You 
have more orderlies now than General Grant him- 
self." 

" This is true, doctor ", I said, for I had four who 
had been assigned to me by the doctor that they 
might have special care, " and not one of them can 
stand alone for one hour." 

" Well, you may have him, and I wish you suc- 
cess." 

I then asked Willie if he would like to be my 
orderly, and he seemed quite delighted. I directed 
the nurse to dress him early next morning, and to 
let him lie down till I came for him. The poor boy 
staggered to his feet, but we almost carried him to 
my tent, where I removed his army shoes and put 
a pair of my slippers on his poor, little thin feet. I 
then laid him on my cot, bathed his hot head, neck 
and hands, gave him nourishment, and told him to 
try to sleep while I was away caring for other pa- 
tients. All this was repeated for several days, and 
thus he escaped the sight of dying and suffering 
men. Each night I took him back to his tent, 
where he slept soundly until morning. He im- 
proved slowly. 

One day, while taking my dinner alone in my 
little mess tent, I was surprised to see him standing 
at " attention " beside me. " Miss Smith ", he said, 
while the fever burned his cheeks and brightened 
his dark eyes, " I've been here five days, and it's 



SOME PATIENTS 87 

time I did something for you." The fever had 
burned out for the time, and, turning quickly I 
caught his falling, emaciated form. Realizing his 
own helplessness, the poor child wept bitterly. 

Meanwhile his youthful officers had come to see 
him, which greatly pleased the poor boy. He im- 
proved very slowly, but evidently would not quite 
recover in these surroundings. I decided to make 
an effort to send him home as soon as possible. 
With permission of Surgeon Porter, and with his 
ambulance and an orderly, I rode a few miles to a 
camp of the 37th New Jersey Infantry, in the 
woods, which was composed entirely of boys and 
officers of not more than twenty or twenty-four 
years of age. 

The little " dog " or A tents allowed only one to 
crawl in on either side of the tent pole, and lie on 
his blankets on the bare ground with knapsacks for 
pillows. No wonder malaria made havoc in their 
ranks ! 

While I was there, an order came to send for- 
ward a small detachment of men for picket duty. 
All clamored to go, shouting in a most informal 
manner, quite regardless of discipline. " Say, Cap, 
let me go." '' I say, Maj, you know me." " Cap, 
let me go, won't you? " etc., etc. A dozen men 
were selected, not one fully grown, and these boys 
staggered off in high spirits, each carrying a knap- 
sack weighing sixty pounds, a gun and an overcoat. 

The colonel and captain of this regiment very 
cheerfully made the necessary application for a sick 



88 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

furlough, and on my return to camp Surgeon Por- 
ter at once endorsed it. Then, having waited a few 
days for some one to take charge of Willie, I had 
the satisfaction of seeing him start in an ambulance 
for the boat at City Point, supplied with brandy 
and nourishment. His head lay on the knee of an 
officer who was going to Fortress Monroe, and 
there was a happy boyish smile on his face as they 
drove away. 

In a few weeks came the good news that he had 
reached home and mother and was fast recovering. 

In the same ward with Willie were a number of 
Ohio " ninety days selected men ", chiefly farmers, 
nearly every man six feet or more in height. They 
were typhoid cases, who were really suffering 
more from nostalgia than from fever. They had 
already served half their term, yet nothing could 
arouse them from despair and homesickness, from 
which many of them actually died, while the wiry, 
irrepressible city boys generally recovered. 

One day, while I was trying to bathe away the 
fever from the head and hands of a young officer. 
General Butler entered the tent with some of his 
staff, and thanked me for my care of this favorite, 
asking that I would do all in my power to make him 
comfortable. 

Another patient. Chaplain Eaton, of a Connecti- 
cut regiment, was recovering from typhoid, and, 
though not very ill at this time, still claimed a good 
deal of my attention. I felt, however, that it was 
a waste of time to spend many minutes talking with 



SOME PATIENTS 89 

him, or in reading the Bible to him, while so many 
others were really suffering and needing special 
care. But I wrote to his wife and did what I could. 
He was very grateful, and wished to prove it by 
presenting to me a handsome black horse, that his 
orderly brought daily to the tent for inspection and 
petting. The animal was so intelligent that he 
seemed really to recognize me. The chaplain's in- 
sistence upon my accepting the horse was quite 
annoying ; and at last I said to him that " it would 
be a great pity to turn such a beautiful creature into 
an * elephant \ which he would certainly become on 
my hands ". 



90 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

CHAPTER X 
EXPERIENCES AT POINT OF ROCKS 

ON Miss Barton's return I found myself very 
much '* de trop *\ though she treated me 
kindly. I saw very little of her work, but 
her extreme deliberation, when one day I had run 
to her quite breathless from the operating tent for 
bandages, etc., for the surgeons who were waiting, 
was very irritating. She asked about my health, 
urged me to take a seat, and very slowly rummaged 
about for the necessary supplies. The only time I 
saw her actively engaged was on a day when there 
had been a skirmish at the front, and she started 
for the field with the ambulance and an orderly, and 
a small box of bandages, condensed milk, etc. 

One bright moonlight night, I was startled by 
strange sounds of melodious singing in the dis- 
tance, and, with an orderly, I went to ascertain its 
meaning. We soon came upon a large fire sur- 
rounded by a circle of perhaps forty negroes, men 
and women, crooning and singing. They were 
often led by a high falsetto, then sinking to a low 
monotone, when suddenly another voice would rise 
changing to a new refrain, while not one lost the 
time or pitch or made discords. They danced hand 
in hand in a slow rythmic circle, while one, more 
excited than the rest, would spring up to a remark- 
able height shouting, " Glory ! bress de Lawd ! " 
" I's a-comin* Lawd ! " etc. All " eyes in a fine 



EXPERIENCES AT POINT OF ROCKS 91 

frenzy rolling ", shone like great black beads in the 
firelight, while their white teeth gleamed brightly. 
All were in solemn seriousness as they sang simple 
couplets like the following: 

" If I'd a died when I was young, 
I wouldn't a had dis risk to run." 

" Some folks is bery good on de sing. 
But dey don't know nuffin 'bout de hebbenly King." 

" Some folks is bery good on de talk. 
But dey don't know nuffin 'bout de hebbenly walk." 

They continued on in childish simplicity till their 
ecstasy broke into shouts of '' Cum down Lawd ! " 
— '' I's a comin' Lawd ! Look out for me ! " — 
'* I's a-waitin' Lawd ! " — while the circle whirled 
in dizzy speed until they sometimes fell exhausted 
to the ground. All feared the '' Voodou-Cunger " 
woman, and were anxious to propitiate her with a 
rabbit's foot and various incantations. 

Eloquence, rhythm, oratory and harmony seem 
inborn among this strange people, who have given 
to the whole South the soft voice and accent so 
many of us like to hear. 

Under existing conditions it was a relief when 

Mrs. E came from the Masonic Mission in New 

York and claimed that a mistake had been made in 
sending me to Point of Rocks, and informed me 
that I would find work to my liking at City Point. 

The following day Mrs. K , with an ambu- 
lance, took me for a day's rough travel over cordu- 
roy roads and ditches and through woods to Gen- 



92 REMINISCENCES pF AN ARMY NURSE 

eral Burnside's gth Corps headquarters in a clump 
of trees before Petersburg. The General came out 
of an inner tent, putting on his coat and apologiz- 
ing, saying he had been sleeping. 

" Why, General, how can you sleep with the 
shells screaming and exploding so near? " 

" Oh," he replied, laughingly, " this is when I 
can sleep comfortably. It's only when I hear mus- 
ketry that I fear there is mischief brewing." 

A very courteous, handsome, soldierly gentleman 
was General Burnside. 

We then drove a short distance to General O. B. 
Wilcox's headquarters, so near Petersburg that, 
with the General's glasses, I could distinctly see the 
people in their houses at their daily work, though 
the cannons on both sides were replying with a 
formality as if war was a matter of etiquette. 
There seemed to be only women in the town, going 
about their home duties, quite unconscious of shells 
falling into their doomed city. The General was 
quite elated at having that day moved his lines for- 
ward three-quarters of a mile. 

Seeing a number of barrels piled before his tent, 
I asked why they were there. He smiled and said, 
" I was sitting here awhile ago when a bullet 
passed over my shoulder, and the boys were afraid 
a sharpshooter might pick me off, so they piled 
these barrels up for protection." 

General Burnside commanded the gth Army 
Corps and General Wilcox the second division of 
that Corps. Both were gentlemen of refinement 



EXPERIENCES AT POINT OF ROCKS 93 

and great kindness to the men, who were very 
proud and fond of their commanders. I observed 
that both Generals treated me with more courtesy 

than they showed to Mrs. E , athough she was 

a much older woman. 




GENERAL BURNSIDE 

The next day on leaving the hospital at Point of 
Rocks, after thanking Surgeon Porter for his 
friendliness and attention that had made my stay 
possible and pleasant, and bidding Miss Barton 

good-bye, I went with Mrs. E on board the 

" Gazelle ", (then well known in New York Bay), 
— and returned to City Point. 



94 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

We went directly to the tent of a Miss Nye, on 
the Agency Row, whom I recognized as having 
seen in the office of the Masonic Mission in New 
York City. Miss Nye at once took me aside say- 
ing, '' You had better take off that badge," — the 
badge of the Masonic Mission, which I had worn 
for protection, — " it is not respected here, and 
you may stay with me as long as you wish, but that 
woman cannot stay another night in my tent ". 

About midnight a terrific storm arose and threat- 
ened to sweep Miss Nye's tent into the ravine quite 
nearby. She called for help from the next tent, 
where slept some Christian Commission agents. 
While Miss Nye held on to one side of the tent, I 
threw myself across my cot and, with all my 

strength, held on to the other side. Mrs. E in 

a short gown and petticoat of the olden time, held 
the tent flaps as the wind rushed through, nearly 
carrying us all away with the tents. However, the 
men soon hammered down the tent pins securely, 
and all was quiet again. Altogether we made a 
comical picture and would have been a fine group 
for the present day kodak. 

Mrs. E left City Point the next day, and so 

passed out of my life. 

While I was yet with Miss Nye, another night of i 
alarm ended rather amusingly. We were sleeping; 
soundly on opposite sides of the tent when MisS' 
Nye screamed out that some one had reached un- 
der the tent and touched her hand. We got up) 
and, after talking loudly for a while, thought the: 



EXPERIENCES AT POINT OF ROCKS 95 

intruder was scared off. Then we fell asleep. He 
came back again, however, evidently trying to 
reach a pocket book under Miss Nye's pillow. 
This time, not wishing to disturb the sleepers in 
the near tents, we concluded to " arm ourselves for 
the fray ". Miss Nye found a hatchet which she 
would have used bravely. I could find no defensive 
weapon but a big long-necked bottle. We knew 
that the thief could hear our threatening talk as he 
was hiding in the ravine close by, so we lay down 
again, Miss Nye clasping the hatchet on her breast, 
and I embracing in like manner my big bottle. 
We soon slept soundly again, when suddenly a ter- 
rific crash caused us to spring up in alarm. What 
could it be? Then I realized that I had relaxed 
my hold on the big bottle, which had rolled across 
the rough floor and crashed against the tent pole. 
After indulging in a good laugh over our fright, we 
slept soundly once more until morning. 

Still another incident regarding Miss Nye comes 
to mind. Years after the war I succeeded in find- 
ing her, then a graduate of homoeopathy in New 
York City, — Doctor Frances M. Nye. She had 
met a Confederate soldier, also a graduate of this 
school of medicine, and also bearing the name of 
Francis M. Nye. The identity of names, perhaps, 
induced a lasting friendship, and when they mar- 
ried Miss Nye changed only one letter in her name. 
They continued to practise together for many years 
and seemed very happy. 



96 REMINISCENCES QF AN ARMY NURSE 



chapte:r XI 

DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL AND STATE AGEN- 
CIES AT CITY POINT, VIRGINIA 

THE hospital was situated half a mile from 
General Grant's headquarters at City Point, 
at the junction of the James and Appomatox 
Rivers, and about eight miles from Petersburg 
front. The hospital camp, then under the charge 
of Surgeon Edward Dalton and medical staff, was 
laid out with great precision. This field hospital 
was divided into the gth, 2d, 6th, 5th corps, and 
corps d'Afric, and these again into divisions, ave- 
nues, and streets at right angles, — numbered and 
lettered. There were many thousands of sick and 
wounded in these wards, nine thousand or more at 
a time, I believe. 

Convalescent soldiers did police, ward, nurse and 
kitchen duty. There were hundreds of wards with 
stockade sides, covered with canvas roofs upheld 
in the usual manner by ridge and tent poles, each 
containing probably fifty or more bunks or cots. 
A perfect system of order and policing by con- 
valescent men was enforced, and not a particle of 
refuse or any scrap was allowed to lie for a moment 
upon the immaculate streets or avenues of the 
" Sacred Soil ", which was generally beaten hard 
and dry, though in wet weather this was a problem 
to try men's souls and women's soles too. At such 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 97 

times we were obliged to wade through nearly a 
foot of liquid mud, occasionally sticking fast till 
pulled out somehow, perhaps with the loss of a 
high rubber boot. 

The wards were wonders of cleanliness, consid- 
ering the disadvantages of field life, and even at 
that time sanitation was of a high order and, to a 
great degree, prevented local diseases. Men 
nurses, soldiers unfit for active duty, took pleasure 
in fixing up their wards with an attempt at orna- 
mentation, when allowed. These men well de- 
served their pay, as they worked cheerfully for the 
government and for their sick comrades, doing 
their part faithfully during the devastations of war. 
They were as much needed and as necessary as 
their heroic comrades in the field. I never knew 
of one of these faithful, hard-working amateur 
nurses being guilty of neglect or unkindness, 
though chronic growlers and irritable sick men 
were often exasperating to the nurse's unfailing 
care and patience. They frequently conveyed 
some interdicted luxuries from the sutler, or extra 
rations, to make life more endurable and comfort- 
able for the invalids. This was usually winked at 
by their officers. They were generally appreci- 
ated, and little dissatisfaction or complaint could 
have been expressed. Perfect discipline and sym- 
pathy seemed to prevail. 

During my year in this Field Hospital I did not 
hear of any enforcement of severe punishment, but 
I remember, one day, while riding outside of hos- 



98 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 




DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 99 

pital lines, past a post or camp in the woods, seeing 
in the distance a poor fellow hanging by his thumbs 
to the branch of a tree. It was said by the men of 
his regiment that " the fellow ought to have been 
hanged." 

Just across the road on one side of the hospital 
was a row of State Agency tents. Larger tents of 
the Sanitary Commission, — that magnanimous 
gift of the people that so often, even in the far 
South, so nobly supplemented the regular hospital 
work and supplies, sometimes even with its own 
transports and its own official corps of workers, — 
headed this row. In the middle of the Agency row 
were the tents of the Christian Commission, sup- 
ported chiefly by churches from all over the North- 
ern States. They had built a large rough wooden 
structure where regular services were held on Sun- 
days and on many evenings during the week, to the 
great relief and enjoyment of weary men seeking 
to find a word of hope and comfort, and a change 
from the monotony of ward life. Many ministers 
and other speakers came to look over the work, 
and many of them were very interesting and 
earnest. 

Along this extensive row of tents were the 
Agencies, supported by the liberality of their sev- 
eral States, which also supplemented the govern- 
ment in giving special care to their own individual 
men. Capable men and refined women workers 
toiled uncomplainingly to make hospital life more 
endurable for the sick. 



100 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

From Petersburg front sick and wounded were 
daily sent to the hospital, often on rough flat sand 
cars, over badly laid shaking tracks, being brought 
as hastily as possible that they might receive 
proper care and help. The sight of these cars, 
loaded with sufferers as they lay piled like logs, 
waiting their turn to be carried to the wards, — 
powder-stained, dust-begrimed, in ragged torn and 
blood-stained uniforms, with here and there a half- 
severed limb dangling from a mutilated body, — 
was a gruesome, sickening one, never to be forgot- 
ten, and one which I tried not to see when unable 
to render assistance. 

Not only were the sick and wounded from near 
by brought there, but large numbers came from 
more southerly points of the army of the Potomac. 
Many seriously or permanently injured were sent 
here to wait until able to be forwarded to Wash- 
ington. Some came en route on sick furloughs, or 
to be discharged, or when fit returned to their regi- 
ments in the field. Every grade of suffering or 
weariness found temporary shelter and care here. 
All incurable cases were hurried forward as soon 
as possible to make room for the multitude still 
coming. 

One day while I was passing through a large 
ward, a number of sick and wounded men were 
brought in. Suddenly one of them, — a boy of 
about eighteen, — stood before me at " atten- 
tion ". Signs of typhoid were only too evident, as. 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 



101 



quite wildly, he struggled to express himself, much 
like the following: 

** Oh, Miss, won't you just take my name? It's 
John C. Guffin; and write to my parents and tell 
them about me? " Controlling himself with an 




JOHN C. GUFFIN 

effort he continued : " And Oh, do write to my em- 
ployer, Mr. Gibson, in Albany, and now, now be 
quick, won't you?" — always prepared for such 
emergencies, I quickly took down these addresses, 
— " for in a minute I won't know anything, just 
like I was when they brought me in." 

With a painful struggle he controlled his mind, 



102 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

saying: ''Just take these" (small articles) ''and 
this little watch and wear it until I get well." 
This intense strain exhausted the last gleam of in- 
telligence, and he fell unconscious on a cot near by. 
Many weeks he lay, raving and incoherent, till the 
fever had spent its malign power. During these 
weeks I had many times stopped to glance at the 
poor fellow, with burning fever and his eyes rolling 
wildly; but I could do little for him. The soldier 
nurses, always kind to their sick comrades, did all 
that was necessary or possible. 

At this crisis Dr. O'Maugher came to me in the 
Maine State Agency saying, " Do you remember 
the boy Guffin? Well the fever has spent itself, 
and he is now lying in a critical state of exhaustion, 
refusing all nourishment. I know you are over- 
worked, but he is at a point when only a woman's 
care can pull him through. Can you make a place 
for him on your list? " 

I went as soon as possible to the emaciated pa- 
tient, whose mind was not yet quite clear, though 
he seemed at once to have confidence in me and 
wished me to stay by his side. Losing no time, I 
said : " Why, John, I hear you will not eat any- 
thing, and now if you will not eat you will certainly 
relapse and die." 

" I can't eat, I can't eat," he continued to repeat. 

" Why not? " I asked. " Why can't you eat? " 

"Why," he said, " these ain't John C. Guffin's 
teeth, and I can't eat, I can't eat." 

Here was a problem. The boy must not be 



I 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 103 

forced against his own will. " Why, my boy, 
that's nonsense, because you have had a bad fever." 

He repeated, "Can't eat, can't eat; these ain't 
my teeth, and I can't eat with another man's 
teeth." 

Experience had taught us many devices while in 
our daily care of irresponsible patients, so I re- 
plied quickly, " O, that makes no difference, don't 
you know you can eat just as well with another 
man's teeth as with your own? " — a fact pain- 
fully true to many. He turned and looked at me 
very doubtfully while I repeated and urged him to 
try. " Now, John, I'm going to make something 
real nice for you, and you are going to eat it." 

Very soon I brought my little tray, with silver 
cup and spoon and a pretty doily, in which for re- 
fined patients I had much confidence, and which at 
once diverted their attention. When I sat down 
beside him he said once more to me rather quietly, 
" Can't eat, can't eat." 

" Now, John, I made this just for you ; it's 
awfully good, taste it." 

Taking advantage of an open-mouthed objec- 
tion, I slipped in a spoonful which he was obliged 
to swallow, greatly to his surprise ; and so I quickly 
followed it with two or three more spoonfuls, and 
left the little tray for him to look at, and to help 
him to reason out why he could eat with another 
man's teeth. 

Daily I fed him until he was able to take the 
regular hospital diet. While convalescent, and 



104 REMINISCENCES OF .AN ARMY NURSE 

when quite himself, we had almost a quarrel. I 
wished to return the little silver watch, and he in- 
sisted upon my keeping it, this I refused until he 
declared that it was not good enough, and if I 
would not keep it he would send me a handsome 
^old one when he reached home. At last I con- 
sented to accept it as a keepsake from a boy friend, 
saying I would rather have it than a gold one. To 
my great regret, while galloping with a party 
through Petersburg, just after the capture, I lost 
it from my belt, with a bunch of rings made from 
buttons, and little tokens made by the boys from 
the bones of the meat in their rations. 

Meanwhile I had written to his family and to his 
employer, Mr. Gibson, who wrote that if the boy 
could be taken home he would come for him. Im- 
mediately I wrote and explained to him what was 
necessary to procure a discharge or sick furlough. 
The former was soon obtained, as he was even then 
but a boy. Mr. Gibson came at once, and took the 
lad home in a most generous manner. 

When, later, I went to Albany for an interview 
with Governor Fenton, I was entertained by his 
family; but John was not at home, and I have 
never seen him since. 

During this period of the great Rebellion the 
most terrible battles of any recorded in modern 
history, were fought. After one of them, during 
which the same ground had been fought over re- 
peatedly, now with success on the Southern side, 
now on the Northern, a flag of truce was sent in 



I 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 105 

from the Confederate Army, asking for a cessation 
of hostilities that its soldiers might be allowed to 
bury their dead. The following poem, written by 
Amanda T. Jones, author of " A Psychic Autobi- 
ography," commemorates the heart-breaking inci- 
dent. It will be found among her collected works 
entitled '' Poems: 1854-1906 ". 

A REBEL FLAG OF TRUCE 

Let us bury our dead : 
Since we may not of vantage or victory prate ; 
And our army, so grand in onslaught of late, 
All crippled has shrunk to its trenches instead — 

For the carnage was great: 

Let us bury our dead. 

Let us bury our dead. 
Oh, we thought to surprise you, as panting and flushed. 
From our works to assault you we valiantly rushed : 
But you fought like the gods, till we faltered and fled, 

And the earth, how it hushed ! 

Let us bury our dead. 

So, we bury our dead — 
From the field, from the range and the crash of the gun, 
From the kisses of love, from the face of the sun! 
Oh, the silence they keep while we dig their last bed ! 

Lay them in, one by one : 

So we bury our dead. 

Fast we bury our dead. 
All too scanty the time let us work as we may. 
For the foe burns for strife, and our ranks are at bay : 
On the graves we are digging what legions will tread. 

Swift and eager to slay — 

Though we bury our dead. 



106 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

See we bury our dead ! 
Oh, they fought as the young and the dauntless will 

fight, 
Who fancy their war is a war for the right ! 
Right or wrong, it was precious — this blood they have 
shed: 
Surely God will requite. 
And we bury our dead. 

Yes, we bury our dead. 
If they erred as they fought will He charge them with 

blame? 
When their hearts beat aright and the truth was their 

aim? 
Nay, never in vain has such offering bled ! — 
North or South, 'tis the same — 
Fast we bury our dead. 

Thus we bury our dead, 
O, ye men of the North, with your banner that waves 
Far and wide o'er our Southland, made rugged with 

graves. 
Are ye verily right that so well ye have sped? 

Were we wronging our slaves? 

Well, we bury our dead ! 

Ah, we bury our dead ! 
And granting you all you have claimed on the whole. 
Are we spoiled of our birthright and stricken in soul. 
To be spurned at Heaven's court when its records are 
read? 

Nay, expound not the scroll. 

Till we bury our dead! 

Haste and bury our dead. 
No time for revolving of right and of wrong 
We must venture our souls with the rest of the throng 
And our God must be Judge as He sits overhead, 

Of the weak and the strong. 

While we bury our dead. 



i 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 107 

Now peace to our dead ; 
Fair grow the sweet blossoms of Spring where they lie ; 
Hark ! the musketry roars and the rifles reply. 
Oh, the fight will be close and the carnage be dread ! 

To the ranks let us hie : 

We have buried our dead. 



I found plenty of work to do, and attached my- 
self to the Ninth Corps especially, though visiting 
all the wards and corps. I was invited by Mrs. 
Mayhew to work with her for some weeks in the 
Maine State Agency. While there I was asked 
later, in the absence of Miss Gilson, of Lynn, Mas- 
sachusetts, to take charge of the Corps d'Afric, but 
I soon found that the work was chiefly to look after 
refugee negroes, and to give them employment in 
laundry work, etc. Doctor Thomas Pooley was 
then in charge of that corps, and is now a dis- 
tinguished oculist of Manhattan. I still see him, 
a very young man, resplendent in a new uniform 
with bright buttons, red sash, etc., as officer of the 
day. 

Miss Gilson had come with Mr. Fay, General 
Superintendent of the Sanitary Commission, in the 
field, and formerly Mayor of Chelsea, Massachu- 
setts, and she chose to work for the Corps d'Afric. 
That was quite as well conducted as any other 
corps. Miss Gilson was a dainty young woman, 
and, while in camp, wore a short pretty dress of 
grey cloth and a white kerchief tastily arranged 
over her dark hair and one about her neck. She 
had a pure soprano voice, and frequently sang 



108 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

army songs and hymns to the men, making them 
quite happy, and with a sort of reverence, they 
seemed to find her an angel of peace. In her 
earnest devotion. Miss Gilson remained too long 
ministering to typhoid patients from whom she 




HELEN LOUISE GILSON 



contracted the fever, and at last was compelled to 
leave her chosen work and go to her home, still 
hoping to recover and to return to the patients of 
her corps. Her strength was not equal to the 
waste of that burning fever, however, and she died 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 109 

in her early womanhood, a sacrifice to her benevo- 
lence and patriotism as truly and honorably as the 
men who died on the field of battle. 

I returned to the Maine State Agency, and 
found more special cases in the hospital than could 
be cared for by all the ladies. The United States 
Sanitary Commission was under the direction of 
the late J. Yates Peek, of Brooklyn, New York. 
The absence of sectarianism in their work gave 
them greater freedom than was found in the work 
of the " Christian Commission ", which was con- 
ducted on " religious " principles. The latter, 
however, did a very large work under the direction 
of the late Mr. Henry Houghton, a distinguished 
oculist of Manhattan. 

The large wooden chapel accommodated many 
hundreds, and here came preachers from all over 
the country, whose churches had contributed sup- 
plies and were anxious to know how their contri- 
butions were applied. Some ministers, from re- 
mote localities, were a great annoyance, having to 
be entertained by the Christian Commission, and 
wanting to regulate their donations according to 
the ideas of their own little parishes. 

In the Maine State Agency the " mess " was at 
that time composed of Mrs. Mayhew and her lady 
assistants, with two or three convalescent olftcers. 
This pleasant party I was invited to join. 

Surgeon William O'Maugher, of the 69th New 
York Infantry, late coroner of New York City, a 
jolly Irish gentleman, and Lieutenant Stanwood, of 



110 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Maine, with their wit and jolly talk were a great 
help to us, when we sometimes actually staggered 
to our tents, completely discouraged and ex- 




LIEUTENANT STANWOOD 



hausted. It was impossible to help all the sick 
" Boys ", who were happy if we could give them 
only a pleasant word of cheer in passing. We 
frequently sat on the rough seats, leaning wearily 
on the plank tables supported on empty barrels; 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 111 

but their Yankee and Irish jokes, after a good 
meal, soon raised our spirits and we were ready to 
start again on the endless round among the sick. 

One day at dinner, when I was particularly de- 
pressed. Doctor O'Maugher began with an extra 
brogue — '' Yees all think a deal of Miss Smith, 
don't yees? " 

" Well, I guess we do," said Lieutenant Stan- 
wood, " and no one had better say anything against 
her." 

" Well, if yees knew what I know about her y'd 
change yer mind." I was too tired to raise my 
head, and he went on : " Yees know about that 
Guffin boy she tuk care of? Well, she saved his 
life to be sure, but if ye knew the rist of it." 

At last I said, " What's the matter with you, 
O'Maugher?" 

" Well," he went on, '' do ye know whin I 
wanted to put a fly blisther on the back of the 
boy's head, she wouldn't allow it, and for why do 
ye think? Well, she said it would spoil his looks 
for a corpse." This of course was followed with 
a shout of laughter which happily relaxed the 
tension of fatigue, and gave us courage to go on. 

One morning when Doctor O'Maugher came to 
his " mess " he looked a picture of misery." Why, 
Doctor, what's the matter? " 

" Oh, it's a poor miserable cuss of a biped I am 
onyway." 

" What makes you so unhappy? " 

" Oh, it's just a miserable toothache that I have." 



112 REMINISCENCES. OF AN ARMY NURSE 

'* Is that all? Well then, Doctor, you are only 
a bicusped after all." 

" Be garry, it's right ye are," he laughed. 

Mrs. Mayhew, a lady of much refinement, pos- 
sessed a sweet soprano voice, and a few of us 
formed a chapel quartette. The singing was 
greatly enjoyed by the convalescents, especially as 
we took care to select good old time choruses in 
which they joined heartily. Planed planks on logs 
made tolerable seats, and a rough platform and a 
desk, lighted at night with lamps or candles, com- 
pleted the arrangements of the great square room 
of unplaned boards, where, as Miss Nye remarked, 
we sometimes literally " sat under the drippings of 
the sanctuary ". 

Many evenings while resting from the fatigue of • 
the day we sat outside the Maine Agency tent and ! 
sang army and other patriotic songs. Mrs. May- 
hew with her rare sweet voice led the singing, and I 
the chorus followed in our favorite songs of: 
" Picking the Lint ", '' Tenting To-night ", '* We: 
Shall Meet but We Shall Miss Him", "Star 
Spangled Banner ", " Home, Sweet Home ". The 
latter, however, caused many stealthy tears among 
the listening patients, so we often closed with 
something cheerful like " Yankee Doodle " orrj 
" John Brown's Body ", etc. Owing to the quiet ' 
of the great hospital after dark the singing could 
be heard all over camp. 

I was urged to take charge of the 2nd corps' dieti 
kitchen in the absence of Miss Hancock, which 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 113 

meant to direct the soldier cooks, see to supplies, 
regulate hours and kitchen diet, etc., for four 
hundred convalescents. 

Late one morning the head cook came to me say- 
ing, *' It's time to begin dinner, and we have 
nothing but one little shoulder of lamb. The 
Cornmissary has not sent any meat or vegetables. 
What shall we do?" 

This was a dilemma certainly. Four hundred 
hungry men must somehow be fed. All through 
the army at every camp, I believe, a temporary 
oven was set up during the halts, and excellent 
fresh bread was served daily. The government 
also supplied the very best of coffee, but this was 
not dinner. One must be equal to any emergency 
in the army. Telling the cook to get out his large 
cauldron and put into it the little allowance of meat 
to boil, I took an orderly with a wheelbarrow, and 
started on a forage among the agencies. 

At Maine I begged some fresh vegetables. 
Ohio gave some canned meat, Indiana onions. New 
Jersey more canned goods. I sent the orderly 
with these to the cook, directing that everything 
be put into the cauldrons. We got another bar- 
row load from the Pennsylvania, the Christian and 
the Sanitary Commissions. This miscellaneous 
collection, when cooked and well seasoned, made 
" the best stew we ever ate ", said the satisfied 
four hundred. 

While at this diet kitchen some one stole my 
journal, money, and pass, — the latter the most 



114 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

serious loss, as no one could remain in camp with- 
out written authority. Happily, and to my sur- 
prise, when I applied to Surgeon Dalton as to 
what I must do, he said, '' As I know of your good 
work in New York, Miss Smith, I will be happy to 
have you remain, but hope you will get a pass as 
soon as possible. The Provost Marshall, General 
Patrick, has authority higher than mine." The 
General was a strict disciplinarian, and had he 
known that my pass was lost he could have 
ordered me to *' report to Washington at once ". 

Many strange things occurred in our daily work. 
While I was helping at the Pennsylvania Agency, 
a wild-eyed, simple-minded woman found her way 
to our tents. Twice before she had somehow 
either eluded the guards or had worried officers 
into giving her a temporary pass. She had come 
for '' the bones of her son " who had died at White 
House Landing and was supposed to have been 
buried there in the early skirmishes of the war. 
Hoping to satisfy this persistent woman, Mrs. 
Painter, whose pass gave her authority, ordered a 
transport to take her with a detachment of men to 
the golgotha of her hopes. 

We took the short sail and landed at White 
House Point, where it was thought the boy might 
possibly have been buried, as the men had been in 
a skirmish there. They tried to locate the body 
by driving down in many places a long slender 
iron bar, but no trace of it was found. The half- 
demented woman continued to declare that she 



DEPOT FIELD HOSPITAL 115 

would " yet hold those dear bones in her arms ". 
She was finally persuaded to go home and come 
another time, which was the only way of relieving 
the hospital of her presence. 

According to army usage everything movable 
might be taken from a deserted point. The White 
House was still standing in good order, with green 
lattice shutters, and Mrs. Painter directed the men 
to take them off and bring them to our tents, and a 
small summer house was added to our army prop- 
erty. 



116 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER XII 
CITY POINT, VIRGINIA— A DAY IN THE ARMY 

From a letter written Nov. 8, 1864 
^T OVEMBER 8th (Election Day) dawned 



upon a cloudy sky and misty atmosphere as 
peculiar to Virginia as is also the renowned 
and " Sacred Soil ", after a few days' rain. This 
however, we observed after we had risen from our 
narrow hospital bed, which stood close by the side 
of the tent, that flapped in the face of the sleeper 
(or waker) as the wind rose or fell. The rain 
descended in torrents during the night, and all was 
damp as usual in our rag houses. Our sleeping 
apartment, or tent, the second one of the Maine 
Agency, was well stored with boxes of goods and 
delicacies for the sick, leaving little moving space. 
Late as was the season our tents were made com- 
fortably warm with army fireplaces, and stoves, 
though the floors, made of broken boxes, were 
sometimes covered with mud. " Oh, were you 
ever into an Irishman's shanty? " I can not here 
describe our excellent agency which did more for 
the relief of soldiers, and more fully realized the 
idea of an army home, than any agency or com- 
mission on the field. 

I accepted a pressing invitation from the New 
Jersey State Agent, Doctor Hettie K. Painter, to 
join a pleasure excursion. She, by the by, was a 



CITY POINT, VIRGINIA 



117 



living example of the usefulness of a lady in the 
army, who can frequently effect more good by 
personal influence than would be allowed through 
regular channels. 




DR. HETTIE K. PAINTER 



Our pass being sufficient, we started in an ambu- 
lance with a clever driver, who drove around the 
camp and gave us an opportunity to see the extent 
of our hospital, having a capacity of over 9,000, 
and covering an area of twenty-five acres. We 



118 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

then crossed the Petersburg railroad, to which had 
been added a branch running directly into the mid- 
dle of our camp for the more direct and comfort- 
able conveyance of the sick and wounded. 

We splashed on in the mud, through an opening 
in the fortification which protected the base. This 
defense extended about fifteen miles from the Ap- 
pomatox River to the James River, and was a high, 
heavy earthwork, further protected by a deep 
ditch; earthworks having been found to be supe- 
rior to stone fortification. How little did those at 
home know of the immense amount of labor here 
necessary ! The pick and spade still played an im- 
portant part in the warfare of our country. 

Virginia was stripped of her artificial culture and 
bore on her bosom the scourge of war in the form 
of burned and felled woods, torn and altered roads, 
plantations deserted and laid waste, deeply fur- 
rowed fields turned into stony roughness and 
corduroy unevenness, which resisted even the 
indentation of wheels, and threatened frequent 
overturns. With all these marks of desolation, 
waste and destruction, Virginia was still beautiful 
in her woods and varied trees, now gorgeous in the 
oriental splendor of fall, — crimson, orange and 
pale yellow, with a background of the darkest 
green, fading into tan or sere and yellow, — with 
blended colorings indescribable, and hills receding 
in the distance. Near us — beyond the winding 
river and bayous, the dells and ravines and bluffs, 
which give to the quiet and beautiful scenery of 



CITY POINT, VIRGINIA 119 

this section its greatest variety and charm — was 
the Point of Rocks. 

On we jogged in our springless ambulance, here 
passing an army train of supplies, or a load of logs 
for building winter quarters. Further on we ran 
our wheels into a loaded army wagon, drawn by six 
mules, but a dexterous turn brought us upon an 
evergreen bank, and we rode safely along, follow- 
ing a cavalry force. After riding about four miles, 
we came to Broadway Landing, (why so called I 
can not surmise), a depot at which General But- 
ler's supplies were received and forwarded. Here 
we crossed the pontoon bridge, formed by placing 
flat-bottomed boats sidewise about ten feet apart, 
and fastening these by ropes and beams laid across 
from one boat to another, and heavy planks laid 
transversely across the beams. This makes a very 
simple, portable and strong bridge. The river at 
this point is less than a quarter of a mile in width, 
having a steep bank on either side. 

On the eminence of the James River side of the 
Appomattox we came upon the marine artillery per- 
forming their drill. The rapidity with which they 
dismounted, and took to pieces and reconstructed 
their cannon seemed wonderful to an ordinary 
spectator. To the left we passed the spot said to 
be the veritable and memorable site of the his- 
torical incident of the saving of Captain Smith's 
life by Pocahontas. Her direct descendants, the 
Rolfs, give this as the locality, and the stump of a 
large oak tree at the extreme end of the Point of 



120 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Rocks as the identical one, — now felled and 
lying down the bank, — under whose shade might 
have perished John Smith. And what then would 
the world have done for a scapegoat? 

Still further to the left of us was the i8th Army 
Corps Hospital, and in the background, on the 
river bank, rose one of General Butler's great 
signal stations, 125 feet in height, to which were 
communicated from the smaller and hidden sta- 
tions, the results of their observations, and whence 
they were transmitted to General Butler's head- 
quarters. While at one of these smaller stations, 
we saw through glasses a train of nine empty cars, 
passing on the rebel road, which fact was immedir 
ately conveyed by a singular numerical motion of a 
signal flag. The flagman who gave this com- 
munication was remarkably expert in his motions. 

After riding some three miles further we reached 
General Butler's provisional camp, then in com- 
mand of General Graham. Only a part of the sup- 
plies were now forwarded to this point, the rest 
being conveyed by way of the James River. Here 
we stopped at the Hatcher farm. Judging from 
the number of bams and small houses scattered 
about, this must have been quite an extensive 
plantation. The owner and present occupant had 
taken the Oath of Allegiance, and having sent his 
slaves farther south, lived here quietly with his 
wife and three pretty children. But General But- 
ler's vigilance would not allow him to leave his 
house or to speak to any one without the imme- 



CITY POINT, VIRGINIA 121 

diate attendance of a guard, who constantly walked 
before his door. Our cook supplied this rusty 
cavalier and family with the necessities of life, as if 
he were a northern " mud sill ". 

On the farm was quite a large negro cabin, built 
of logs, consisting of two rooms, one above the 
other. This was the telegraph station of this 
section and was under the supervision of the son 
of Doctor Hettie K. Painter, a lad of less than 
seventeen summers, who conducted the business as 
thoroughly as if it had been under the guidance or 
experience of grey locks. What strange stories 
passed over the lines from that mysterious little 
instrument, quietly working away on a side table 
as if only an ornament ! These boy employees, — 
for our young friend Painter had assistance, — 
were all able to read by sounds which, to unprac- 
tised ears, seemed all alike. 

In a large fireplace, over a log fire, Mrs. Painter 
made a camp kettle of cornstarch pudding, and 
George Washington, the contraband, boiled pota- 
toes and fried the mutton chops; and with the ad- 
dition of a few delicacies and good Java coffee, 
which we had carried with us, we had as good a 
dinner as hungry mortals could wish. 

Dinner over, we gathered some of the beautiful 
autumn leaves, and rode on our way until we 
reached the renowned original " Crow's Nest " 
signal station. This was a huge tree seventy-five 
feet high, surmounting which was the " Crow's 
Nest ", reached by rude ladders from one platform 



122 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

to another. This '* Nest " resembled a thatched 
bird's nest on a large scale, about four feet square, 
and it was almost hidden by surrounding trees. A 
new skeleton station erected on the opposite side 
of the road left unused the " Old Nest ". Several 
gunboats were lying in the river, below the banks 
of the James, ready for action. 

Entering the ambulance, we continued our ride 
over hills and through ravines, at the risk of an 
upset, until we safely reached Dutch Gap, General 
Butler's famous canal. This was nearly completed 
at the cost of much time and labor, and only 
waited the blasting of a rock at the other end, to 
complete the work which would form an island of 
the narrow peninsula dividing the River James into 
two branches, to be connected by the canal. 

Along both shores were heavy guns and strong 
fortifications, quite formidable, showing much 
labor and ingenuity. Despite the almost constant 
courtesy of interchanging shells passing overhead, 
the " Johnny Rebs ", on one side of the river, and 
the Yanks on the other bank, had many quiet 
talks across the narrow stream. Talks like this 
were quite usual, and were even winked at by 
officers. 

" Hello Yank, hev u'uns got any good coffee? " 

" Well I guess ! It can't be beat. Say, Johnny, 
how are you off for tobac ? " 

" O, we've got heaps of that. I reckon u'uns 
had better just float some of that coffee across." 

" _* 11 right, Johnny, you get your tobac ready ! " 



CITY POINT, VIRGINIA 123 

By a little practice in watching the current, they 
became quite expert in floating across many ex- 
changes besides the tobacco and coffee. They 
even risked being shot from their own side as 
deserters, and swam across after dark to enjoy a 
supper of " hot pone " on the " Reb " side, or hot 
coffee and some luxuries on the " Yank " side, 
where the sutler often consumed a month's pay at 
a time in selling good things to some '' Boy in 
Blue ". 

Returning, we stopped only at the embalmer's, 
where many bodies were daily prepared to be sent 
to friends at home. The morbid fancy which is 
manifested by so many to possess dead bodies, 
especially those which have long laid buried, seems 
one of the most barbarous customs permitted in a 
civilized country. 

We reached our hospital just as " night drew on 
her sable mantle and pinned it with a star ". The 
camp fires and chimneys were throwing over the 
scene a bright and cheering glow. A good supper 
was prepared by our contraband Hannah, who, 
with a broad smile, declared in her own peculiar 
vernacular: " I's jes goin' gib you alls up; t'o't de 
rebs done got you dis time shoo nuff — I'se so 
glad ". 

We pressed our collection of leaves, and, after a 
short visit to headquarters and the ladies' tent 
where our stores were kept, we returned to 
" Maine " and laid away our weary bones, nearly 
shattered after a day's shaking over the corduroy 



124 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

roads We were soon lulled to sleep by the 6th 
Army Corps singing " The Girl I Left Behind Me " 
and the humming of the singing mice which m- 
fested our tent. 



DOROTHEA DIX 125 



CHAPTER XIII 
DOROTHEA DIX 

ABOUT this time I met Dorothea Dix, that 
masterful woman by whose persevering 
energies insane women were provided with 
suitable hospitals, instead of being confined with 
criminals, as was usual in the old days. She de- 
voted her time, thought and influence to com- 
pelling the opening of decent asylums for these 
often refined, unfortunate women patients. Her 
good work, begun in this country, reached England 
and other countries, and was the beginning of that 
jcivilizing influence that no longer considered these 
unfortunates as subjects of divine punishment. 

Miss Dix, a dignified lady, was then organizing 
a trained nurse corps. There were no trained 
nurses, or " Red Cross " at that time, but later we 
Followed the Swiss movement. Miss Dix asked 
me to join her corps, but I declined, preferring to 
jdo independent work. I was glad, however, to 
|turn over to her nurse corps, my three assistant 
lurses, knowing that with her they would receive 
bay for their services, which the Masonic Mission 
jiad falsely promised to us. Several young girls 
lad been sent, with directions not to take money 
or clothing, as everything would be furnished. I 
lad insisted on taking both. Some girls were 



126 REMINISCENCES'OF AN ARMY NURSE 

stranded at Fortress Monroe, two or three of 
whom I succeeded in sending home safely. Three 
others, stranded and penniless, fell under the pro- 
tection (?) of young officers. I then resigned my 
secretaryship of the Masonic Mission, with a 
threat to expose and have them arrested for false 
pretenses, but they disappeared in a night, and 
were never more heard of. 

On the return of Miss Hancock to the second 
corps* kitchen, some red tape became tangled up, 
and, as I was invited to assist in the New Jersey/ 
and Pennsylvania Agency with Doctor Hettie K. 
Painter, I gladly accepted, and worked for the mem 
of those states, though, each of the Agencies desir- 
ing my help, we all worked in the same spirit fori 
all the " Boys ". 

A most interesting Pennsylvania case was thati 
of a young captain who had received a thigh;' 
fracture while at the front at Petersburg. The 
leg had to be amputated so high that the arteryj^ 
could not be taken up, and it was impossible to 
close it in the usual manner. Consequently men 
were detailed to hold or press their thumbs cease- 
lessly upon the open artery, each man serving four 
hours at a time, although another was always 
ready to take his place in case the strain of holding 
so long in a cramped position should cause him tc 
relax or faint. This was continued for weeks til 
the artery actually healed. I believe only on( 
other such case occurred during the Civil war 
While hastily passing through his ward one day 



I 



DOROTHEA DIX 127 

Lieutenant Stanwood called my attention to this 
officer. 

Contrary to my intention of caring only for 
young boys, I felt it my duty to do what I could 
for this sufferer, whom I found in a very critical 
state, needing the utmost care to bring him 
through. Being a blonde, he was transparently 
white from loss of blood, and so weak that he 
scarcely tried to live. He had no interest in any- 
thing and no appetite. There was no time to be 
lost here, so I said — " Captain, you do not eat, I 
hear, and I want to make you something that you 
would like ''. 

" I have no appetite ", he replied feebly. 

" Can you think of something you could relish? " 

After a pause he said, " I think it's hardly worth 
your time. I shall not recover, but perhaps I could 
eat some barley broth if it is possible to get it ". 

Always strong on the optimistic side, I 
, answered, " I think we can find some. Captain '\ 
I But where? Perhaps not nearer than Washing- 
j ton and forty or more hours away. Here was pos- 
sibly a life to save. Beginning at the Sanitary 
Commission, at the head of the agency row, I went 
[to each State agency in a faint hope of at least 
[securing some substitute, but nothing could I find, 
j Barley was such a simple thing; and now might 
\\ save a life ! I racked my brain to find some palat- 
.able substitute. As a last hope I went to the 
Christian Commission with my anxious inquiry, 
" Can't you remember if on your list of supplies 



128 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

some thoughtful man or woman has sent this now 
invaluable donation? " 

Mr. Houghten said, " I seem to remember that 
about six months ago there was sent a little pack-: 
age marked barley, but how can we find it in this 
great store of supplies? " 

'* Oh ", I exclaimed, " put on all your men tc 
hunt for it; it may save a life worth saving." i 

To my delight, after a long search, a package ot 
about four by three inches was discovered. Los 
ing no time, I ran to my tent and started a few 
spoonfuls boiling. The surgeon had said not ever 
salt could be allowed the patient, lest it should 
increase circulation and thus break open the artery 
scarcely healed. 

At last with my special attractive little array o: 
silver cup, dainty doiley, etc., I went to the poo: 
captain. His refined face at once showed his ap 
preciation of the neat service. 

'' Here's your barley, Captain ", I said cheeri 
ingly ; " let me feed you a few spoonfuls now, and 
I'll come back and give you a little more bye ano 
bye. And, Captain, I shall leave it all here on thi 
little table ; don't let any one carry it off." 

The poor, feeble cripple, who had not been a! 
lowed to change his position for many days, sai 
— " They'd better not touch it ! " and he fixed hi 
great blue eyes on the tray with an air of defiance 
pathetic to see. So his mind had something t 
guard, and this somewhat diverted his attentio 
from the dying and suffering men about hin 



DOROTHEA DIX 129 

Next day the surgeon allowed a little salt, then a 
little butter, and at last a little meat. By this time 
his digestion would allow stronger food, and this 
was fortunate, for, though I had guarded every 
grain of the precious little package, it was almost 
exhausted. 

I have often pictured to myself a kindly, country 
old lady in white cap and kerchief, whose 
prescience in sending this precious barley probably 
saved a life, and I wished that she could know it. 

The captain lived, and went to Washington quite 
recovered, where he received a government leg 
(gratis) which fitted so well that he could jump off 
a moving car. He then went home quite well, 
having sacrificed a leg to his country. His tem- 
perate clean manner of living served him in an 
emergency and carried him over the crisis. 

The mistaken idea of so many men, especially 
military men of that time, that liquor gives 
strength and courage, cost many an otherwise pure 
character his life in such an exigency. 

By contrast with the above I will cite the case 
of Colonel Murphy, Sixty-ninth New York In- 
fantry, second corps, a brave officer, worshipped 
by his men. He was a man of fine physique and 
robust appearance when I saw him, despite his 
fatal wound, a fracture of the thigh, similar to that 
of the Pennsylvania captain. To perform the 
amputation and carry him over successfully it was 
necessary to stimulate him and this was impossible, 
his body being already over-stimulated by the 



130 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

drinking habit to the last degree. I never before 
begrudged anything to a wounded man, but I knew 
that my choice brandy could not help him. He 
died without even a chance of being saved, 
mourned and regretted by his whole corps. 



AN UNEXPECTED RIDE 131 



CHAPTER XIV 
AN UNEXPECTED RIDE 

ON a beautiful clear night, while still in the 
Corps d'Afric, a party of ladies and officers 
walked a short distance to a cabin where a 
negro preacher drew a large crowd. This man, 
though uneducated, was a wonder of natural ora- 
tory and eloquence. In addressing his admiring 
audience his vocabulary was remarkable, as he used 
some extraordinary sentences such as — " All the 
englomerated hosts of heaven ". 

While at this meeting an orderly came for me 
saying that a couple of officers from the front de- 
sired to see me at my tent. I found there two 
uniformed, mounted officers awaiting me, one of 
whom proved to be my old friend Captain Frank 
Dexter of the Engineer Corps. 

The night was perfect in a mild atmosphere and 
a full orbed moon, and I was reminded of James' 
old time " Solitary Horseman ", though here were 
two rarely handsome men of fine physique; and as 
they stood, holding their fiery steeds, they formed 
a romantic picture. 

After a pleasant talk of home and friends they 



132 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE i 

remounted, and with raised sombreros, their 
spurred horses dashed away to the clinking of 
sword and hoofs, while the bright moon rays 
glinted uniforms and accoutrements, till they 
passed under the shadow of the distant woods. 




CAPTAIN B. F. DEXTER 



Captain Dexter had raised Company L of the 
Fiftieth Volunteer Engineer Corps early in the 
war, and still commanded that company at Peters- 
burg front, and during many battles. After the 
close of the war, he became a successful physician, 
and in addition to his practice in New York City 



AN UNEXPECTED RIDE 133 

he held for many years the position of Police 
Surgeon. 

As some patients needed fresh milk, I started out 
boldly one afternoon, with an orderly carrying an 
empty pail and a basket of extracts and small sup- 
plies. We rode through the woods beyond our 
lines to a secesh house quite near. On the piazza 
were a pretty young girl and a young Confederate 
officer in full grey uniform. With them were two 
or three ladies. At first they were suspicious lest 
it was a ruse on our part to capture the young 
" reb ", but a pleasant talk followed, and they 
were glad to exchange some quarts of milk for the 
small luxuries that they had been so long unable 
to secure, and to arrange an exchange of milk for 
such articles in the future. 

We gave the sick rebel prisoners the same atten- 
tion as our own boys. One asked why we were so 
kind to them, and I replied — " Why, don't you 
know we're feeding you up to make you well and 
then send you back so we can fight you over 
again ". This greatly amused them. 

A rumor spread through the camp that the rebel 
gunboats were coming down the James to capture 
the hospital. Much excitement followed as to 
what we women would do; should we try to es- 
cape or should we remain with the sick? We 
promptly decided to remain with our boys; but 
happily the gunboats did not come. 

My only recreation was an occasional horseback 
ride, accompanied by a mounted orderly. As 



134 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

there was only one lady's saddle in camp, it was 
difficult to secure it. Two or three high cavalry 
saddles were altered so that women could ride, un- 
comfortably, on them. I once rode a horse from 
General Russell's headquarters at the Point, and 
found the animal quite unmanageable. He at once 
started for a run and it was impossible to check 
or hold him. I barely managed to hold on, wind- 
ing the reins about my hands, and bracing myself 
in the too small saddle. We passed a hotel on the 
road where many officers were sitting, then Gen- 
eral Grant's tent, and then dashed down the road 
over a pile of logs, nearly upsetting some soldiers 
at work there. With a sudden stop that nearly 
sent me over the horse's head the animal stood 
quietly in front of General Russell's open office 
window, where the General and his staff were con- 
sulting. They sprang up at the clatter and, gasp- 
ing for breath, I said, " General, I didn't come to 
see you because I wanted to, but because I couldn't 
help it ". And there was a general laugh. The 
check rein had been forgotten. 

Another horse took me back very quietly, but 
for many days the strained muscles stood out like 
those of an athlete, and there was pain enough 
through my entire body to make me sympathize 
with a chronic " rheumatic ". 

We sometimes rode to U. S. Headquarters to 
see the drill and inspection of General Russell's 
colored brigade. General Grant often stood be- 
side his magnificent black horse at these inspec- 



AN UNEXPECTED RIDE 135 

tions, and was very proud of the perfect drill of 
the negro infantry, whom he complimented, to 
their great happiness. These were the first col- 
ored troops I had seen. 

According to General Butler's autobiography 
'' The first regiment of colored soldiers was 
mustered in at New Orleans on August 22d, 1862. 
Better soldiers never shouldered a musket. They 
learned to handle arms and to march more readily 
than white men." 

How little thought and justice has been given to 
the fact that, when enlistments began, and as the 
demand for Confederate troops became more im- 
perative, even old men and boys were drafted into 
the Southern army, — for light duty perhaps. In 
some cases there was not a white man within many 
miles, and to the care and honor of these negroes, 
plantations of hundreds of acres were left that 
they might continue to raise food and supplies for 
their army. Despite the fact that thousands of 
these negroes had practically no restraint to fear, 
they cheerfully labored against a cause that even 
at that early day they felt was for their emanci- 
pation, and yet I never heard of an uprising that 
could not have been checked by helpless women. 
There was not a case of robbery, destruction of 
property or rapine among the faithful workers who 
became the protectors of Southern women and 
children. 

In a sketch of the life of General Charles Halpin, 
(Private Miles O'Reilly) occur the following 



136 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

verses. " Sambo's Right to Get Kilt " was writ- 
ten to accustom the Northern soldiers to the pres- 
ence of the negro. They had so strong a preju- 
dice against the negro that they did not like him 




GENERAL CHARLES HALPIN 

even to be killed in the company of white soldiers. 
Its effect was astonishing and its argument was 
unanswerable, and negro soldiers were ever after 
held in the respect due to their orderly conduct. 
General Butler considered them a necessity of 
Northern success, mainly due to the wonderfully 



AN UNEXPECTED RIDE 137 

skilled pen of General Halpin, who died at the 
early age of thirty-seven, at the height of literary 
honor. 



SAMBO'S RIGHT TO BE KILT 

Some tell us 'tis a burnin' shame 

To make the naygars fight ; 
An' that the thrade of bein' kilt 

Belongs but to the white. 
But as for me, upon me sowl ! 

So liberal are we here 
I'll let Sambo be murthered instead of myself, 

On every day in the year. 
On every day in the year. 

And in every hour in the day. 
The right to be kilt I'll divide wid him. 

An' divil a word I'll say. 

In battle's wild commotion, 

I shouldn't at all object 
If Sambo's body should stop a ball 

That was comin' for me direct; 
And the prod of a Southern bagnet, 

So ginerous are we here, 
I'll resign and let Sambo take it 

On every day in the year. 
On every day in the year, boys. 

And wid none of your nasty pride. 
All my right in a Southern bagnet prod 

Wid Sambo I'll divide. 



The men who object to Sambo 

Should take his place and fight ; 

And it's better to have a nayger's hue 
Than a liver that's wake and white. 

Though Sambo's black as the ace of spades, 
His finger a thrigger can pull, 



138 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

And his eye runs sthraight on the barrel-sights 

From under its thatch of wool. 
So hear me all boys darlin', 

Don't think I'm tippin' you chaff, 
The right to be kilt we'll divide wid him 
And give him the larger half. 

CHARLES GRAHAM HALPIN. 
(Miles O'Reilly.) 



TWO FIANCEES 139 



CHAPTER XV 
TWO FIANCEES 

WE were all much interested in the case of 
a young lieutenant who had lost a leg and 
was slowly recovering. He had written 
to his fiancee that he was disabled, and would give 
her up if she so desired. He was now awaiting 
anxiously her reply. 

Quite coincidently, at the other end of the ward 
was Major Hemlock, of the Forty-seventh New 
York Infantry, who had lost a leg and he, too, had 
written his fiancee offering to release her from her 
promise. As time went by without bringing a 
reply the lieutenant became very despondent. 
One day in passing I saw an unopened letter lying 
upon his breast and exclaimed : " Oh, lieutenant, 
your letter has come after all ; but it is not opened ! 
Shall I open it for you? " 

" No," he answered in a despairing voice. " I 
know what it says." 

Unable to persuade him to read his letter, and 
feeling quite sure that it must be favorable, I ran 
quickly to Mrs. Mayhew, of his State agency, 
telling her of the letter. She went at once to him, 
and in her sweet sisterly way at last induced him 
to consent to open the letter. His intuitions 
proved only too true. " Perhaps," the girl had 



140 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

written, " it would be best ; we could still be 
friends." 

Our indignation knew no bounds. The poor 
fellow sank rapidly and died a few days later of a 
broken heart. He was carried by his comrades, 
led by the funeral march of the shrill fife and the 
drum, to his soldier's grave in the woods, over 
which they fired the farewell salute. 

During this time I was greatly surprised one 
day on visiting this ward to find Major Hemlock 
dressed and sitting up, looking happy and like an- 
other man. After a second glance I saw the cause 
of this change, for beside him sat a charming 
young girl who, in reply to his letter offering her 
a release, had started at once and succeeded in 
reaching him safely. The Major was soon able 
to travel and the happy pair returned to their home 
in Philadelphia where they were married. 

My friend Mary Blackmar, a medical student, 
enlisted as nurse, that she might serve her year in 
the field work with its wider experience, instead of 
in some regular city hospital. A year after the 
war she graduated from the Woman's Medical 
College, in Philadelphia, and assisted for a year in 
the dispensary with those wonderful pioneer 
women doctors Mary and Elizabeth Blackwell, in 
New York City. Miss Blackmar married, and 
finally, owing to ill health, was obliged to live in 
Florida, where she still practises medicine as Doc- 
tor Mary Blackmar Bruson. 

In the winter of 1909 I found a little notice in 



TWO FIANCEES 



141 



the newspaper stating that Doctor Elizabeth 
Blackwell was still living near London at ninety 
years of age. About the same time I met a gentle- 
man of my native city whose father (this name has 
escaped me) was the first reputable doctor to hold 



( 




% 


-3?- 


\ 


4J^ 



MARY BLACKMAR 



consultation with these remarkable women. This 
required courage, for at that time women doctors 
were considered bold intruders, " unsexed " — 
whatever that may mean — and why? Because 
they thought that it was time for women to know 
something about their own bodies and diseases. 



142 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

One morning Miss Blackmar, quite excited, her 
dark eyes dancing with pleasure, ran into my tent 
exclaiming, " O, Colonel " (meaning me) " such a 
beautiful girl is in camp, you must see her! I 
don't know how she got here; but I can't stop a 
moment, I must run back to my patients ". 

Soon after, a graceful blonde was sent to us from 
headquarters to be entertained. She stated that, 
though English, she was in Edinboro when the 
news reached her that her brother was wounded 
at City Point, and she lost no time in sailing on 
the first vessel to America, where, perhaps owing 
to her good looks and persistence she succeeded in 
reaching our hospital. Meanwhile the brother 
had returned to his regiment, the Thirty-seventh 
Wisconsin, before Petersburg. I found means, 
however, to communicate with him, and in a few 
hours he pulled rein at our tent, having ridden 
many miles without a halt. 

It soon developed that he was something more 
than a brother; though the girl claimed that this 
dashing, handsome young Englishman, Captain 
Robert Eden, was an adopted brother. He often 
got leave of absence that he might spend an hour 
with his fiancee, Miss Annie Bain, who became 
our friend and companion and, though taking no 
part in our work, remained with us during some 
months. 

About this time our hospitality was taxed still 
further. An orderly brought a pleasant-looking 
woman and presented a note from Hospital Head- 



TWO FIANCEES 143 

quarters which read — " Please entertain Miss 
Mason, who is on her way South by ' flag of 
truce ' . . . She is secesh. Watch her." 

Miss Mason remained a few days, and went 
South by first detachment of paroled rebel patients 
without any incident of interest. 



144 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

CHAPTER XVI 
THE STORY OF MY PASS 

WE were often annoyed by the calls of 
officers who, having little to occupy their 
time, could not understand how it was 
possible for us to be too tired to entertain them. 
They frequently called on me when I had many 
letters to write, and I would say to them : " Well, 
gentlemen, if it's any satisfaction to you to sit here 
while I write letters, I've no objection, but these 
home letters for the Boys are my first duty ". 
They thought I should feel complimented by the 
calls of headquarters' officers, but I assured them I 
was quite aware that they had come to me only to 
kill time, when they had exhausted all other 
amusements. 

It was really too much honor, and too much of 
a good thing when forty-five officers called on me 
in one week, some coming in from the front on 
short leave when all was quiet on the James, others 
from Grant's Headquarters, and from our Hos- 
pital Headquarters. 

One evening I was very tired and three of these 
officers, fine looking men in full uniform, but 
slightly under the influence of liquor, annoyed me 
greatly. At '' taps " I said significantly — " It's 
taps, gentlemen ! " 

" That does not concern us," one replied, " we 
can stay as long as we wish." 



THE STORY OF MY PASS 145 

'' General Grant himself could not stay in my 
tent after taps ", I retorted indignantly. 

They made no move to go, however. I arose 
and simply pointed to the tent opening, declining 
any reply to their remarks. They at last passed 
out in great indignation, and immediately one of 
these doctors began a petty persecution. Know- 
ing that I had lost my pass he tried to have me 
sent to Washington. This soon became known in 
camp, and my friends set themselves to work to 
circumvent his unmanly spite. 

He obtained an order from the Provost Mar- 
shall, General Patrick, by which all persons in 
camp not having passes should report at once to 
Washington. It was necessary, however, that he 
should notify personally any one so unfortunate as 
to have no pass. When he called at my tent I 
was never to be found, for whenever the doctor 
approached some one would say " Here comes C ! " 
and I began a system of remarkable evolutions 
from one tent to another in the row, gliding back 
and forth, until he had to give up the search for 
the day. 

Fortunately my good friend, Mrs. Doctor 
Painter, had made such a favorable report of me 
to General Grant's Headquarters that a pass was 
promised. The utmost diplomacy was necessary 
to gain time, but at last the pass was handed to 
me, secretly, on Thanks9:iving eve, as we were 
decorating the mess hall for the coming feast. 

The next day I was at home when Doctor C. 



146 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

called. I received him with much courtesy and 
said : " I hear, doctor, that you have called several 
times when I was not in. To what am I indebted 
for so much attention? Be seated." 

The florid face grew redder, but I gave him no 
chance to speak, and in my most agreeable manner 
I talked and talked of everything I could think of, 
despite his many efforts to get in a word. Finally 
I grew tired of the fun, as were also some friends 
and listeners in the adjoining tent. Then, as if 
just remembering his attempts to speak, I said, 
" O, doctor, had you something to say to me? " 

Growing still redder, if possible, and sitting un- 
comfortably on the edge of the barrel chair that I 
had insisted on his taking, he said, '' O, only that 
an order is received that all persons not having 
authority must report to Washington. Er - er - 
have you a pass? " 

" Doctor, you know that my pass was stolen." 
And I asked demurely what I should do. 

With an air of exultation he sprang up and said 
— " Unfortunately, Miss Smith, you will have to 
report to Washington to-morrow." 

Then slowly taking the pass from my pocket, I 

said hesitatingly, " Well, Doctor, here is a paper 

that perhaps will help me ", and I handed him the 

Grant pass. 

" Headquarters Armies United States, 
City Point, Virginia, March 16, 1865. 
Miss Smith will be afforded all facilities that Army 
Commanders afford to other State Agents. 

Free transportation will be given her on all Gover- 



THE STORY OF MY PASS 147 

ment steamers and Military Railroads. Guards and 
pickets will pass her accordingly. 

By command of 
LIEUTENANT GENERAL GRANT 

T. S. Bowers, A. A. G." 

I watched him in silence till he finished reading. 
His face was_ crimson and he said with a nervous 
giggle, " O, yes, er — I'll fix you up at medical 
headquarters all right ! " 

*' Will you, indeed? " I replied, " I think I have 
fixed you. Now you may go ", and he lost no 
time in going. 

The laughter in the next tent must have reached 
him as he darted out and across the road to the 
hospital headquarters, where he exclaimed breath- 
lessly : " D that Miss Smith. When I thought 

I had her all right she kept me on nettles for an 
hour, and then showed me an order from General 
Grant ranking me ". 

This soon became camp gossip, and he was 
jeered from one side to the other of the hospital. 



148 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER XVII 

THANKSGIVING, 1864 

UNDER FIRE AT DUTCH GAP, VIRGINIA 

GREATLY needing a day's rest from hos^ 
pital work, I ordered an ambulance, good 
government horses and driver, and invited 
my guest, Miss Bain, and two reliable officers of 
the Corps d' Afric, stationed at General Grant's 
headquarters, City Point, to accompany us, and 
accept an invitation to dinner. 

We started for the renowned '* Dutch Gap ", 
which had been excavated under the supervision of 
General Benjamin Butler, then in command of the 
Army of the James, and it was intended to compel 
the enemy to make a complete change of base. 

A ride of seven or eight miles, through woods 
and over bumping corduroy roads and ditches, 
brought us to the James River, where we had been 
invited to a Thanksgiving dinner of goose (save 
the mark) on a commissary barge then anchored 
opposite the Gap. To my annoyance and Miss 
Bain's consternation, as she was interested only in 
Captain Eden, then at the front, we found ten or 
twelve officers in full dress waiting to receive us 
formally on the barge, when we arrived. It took 
a great deal of courage and not a little tact to get 
through that dinner creditably, while every man 
craved special attention. 



UNDER FIRE AT DUTCH GAP 



149 



After dinner we rowed on the narrow river to 
the monitor Onondaga and another war vessel 
near by. On board the Onondaga we encountered 
another crowd of naval officers, and were urgently 
invited to inspect these wonderfully constructed 




GENERAL BENJAMIN BUTLER 



vessels which were stationed here to protect the 
Gap, and to prevent the rebel gunboats coming 
down the river. 

We landed near this great excavation called 
'' Dutch Gap ", which was to be Butler's chef 
d'ceuvre, viz., a channel cut across a long penin- 



150 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

sula dividing the river at the end into two branches 
running almost parallel; in front of which the 
formidable Confederate mortars were continually 
sending shells all about this locality. A shell had 
dropped directly into the dredging machine, shat- 
tering it completely and it now lay on one side like 
a huge black mastodon. The channel lacked about 
twenty-five feet of successful completion, but ow- 
ing to "orders" no further work was accomplished, 
and thus ended the great Dutch Gap strategy of 
Ben Butler. 

The small row boat landed us on the muddy 
shore where little foliage remained to cover the 
denuded ground of the rough camp of an engineer- 
ing corps and its guard. Despite the almost con- 
stant war courtesy of interchanging shots and 
shells, roaring on either side from the forts, and 
generally passing safely above the heads of 
" Yank " and " Johnnie " alike on each side of the 
river, they enjoyed many friendly talks across. 
Thus they broke the monotony of picket duty and 
gopher holes, while telling camp stories, true or 
otherwise, as the occasion suggested. 

A story was told me that bears out on its face 
the imprint of possibility during the last days of the 
rebellion. A daring young " Reb ", tired of life 
in the swamp and woods, with insufficient rations, 
while waiting for orders to advance, one dark 
night swam boldly across the narrow stream and 
was cordially received. 

After enjoying a jolly evening around the camp 



UNDER FIRE AT DUTCH GAP 151 

fire, and especially, a good " square meal ", he said 
to the Yankee boys, '' You uns have plenty of good 
grub any way, and I'm about starved out. I say, 
Yanks, suppose you uns just surround me and cap- 
ture me and march me up to headquarters as a 
deserter? I'd rather stay on this side and have 
good rations than to starve in the swamp on the 
other side ". 

This the " Yanks " did very cheerfully, and so 
another deserter was added to the Union army. 

Our party started to walk around what was to 
have been Ferry Island, where the tortuous river 
made a sharp turn at the end, almost doubling on 
itself. An officer walking with me constantly 
changed from one side to the other. This sur- 
prised me and on my asking why he did this he 
replied " O nothing ! " ignoring the question, 
though he continued changing sides as we walked 
on the uneven path. I insisted at last upon an 
explanation. He replied : " Well, you know the 
rebs are just across this narrow water in the 
woods, and it wouldn't look well if a lady should 
get a stray shot ! " 

" So you're making a target of yourself. Major, 
to gratify my curiosity ! " I was insisting on 
going back, when a " Johnny Reb " called across 
the stream in a pleasant tone, " Better take those 
ladies away ! " 

Mounting the great hill to look into the aban- 
doned ditch where so much time and labor had been 
lost, we made a strikingly conspicuous group with 



152 REMINISCENCES O:^ AN ARMY NURSE 



the officers in uni- 
forms, bright with 
the sun's reflec- 
tions. Suddenly 
in the midst of 
witty talk and 
badinage a shell 
from the Rebel 
mortar shrieked 
over our heads, 
followed quickly 
by a second one 
with a deafening 
frightful explo- 
sion, and for a sec- 
ond we were 
stunned and al- 
most paralyzed. 

But not a mo- 
ment was lost. 
An officer on 
either side 
grabbed the hands 
of Miss Bain and 
myself and " sans 
ceremonie ", ran 
us quickly down 
the hill until we 
were safe in a 
large bomb-proof 




UNDER FIRE AT DUTCH GAP 153 

gopher hole, where we stopped for breath. These 
gallant officers carried a quantity of " Sacred Soil " 
on their spotless white trousers and polished boots. 
Here we waited while the shells continued to fall 
at some distance. 

A large hole had been dug in the side of the hill 
where a plank floor and roof had been made to 
prevent falling in. This served as a mess room, 
while around the side of the high bluff, in small 
gopher holes, men hived like ants in their earth 
hills. 

Hospitality suggested that a supper be prepared 
for us, and it was spread on planks with news- 
paper tablecloth, tin cups and plates, and two-tined 
forks. An old aunty cook waited on us, and 
served some rather weighty biscuit. The " piece 
de resistance " at this supper and also at the barge 
dinner, was a rather opaque tumbler filled with 
peppermint sticks, which had been procured from 
the sutler. 

The firing continued, and shells struck the water 
in the only channel by which we could return. 
Night was coming on, and I was at a loss to know 
what to do. Not wishing to alarm Miss Bain, I 
took an officer aside and consulted him. 

They would do the best they could for us with 
only gophers for shelter, if we wished to pass the 
night there. If we attempted to cross the river it 
must be at our own risk, as the firing would prob- 
ably continue until nightfall. 

I decided at once for myself, but Miss Bain was 



154 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

my guest and must be given a choice. The 
agency people had always been careful to avoid 
even an appearance of evil. '' Should we brave 
the comment of staying all night in a strange 
camp, or must we risk our lives in attempting to 
escape the shells falling on our route? " Without 
a moment's hesitation the courageous girl said 
firmty and briefly, " I'd rather risk the shells and 
drowning ". 

A boat was ordered at a pistol's point, and the 
poor pallid rower was so frightened that he could 
scarcely hold the oars. We got in with only our 
two escorts; the others were evidently not at all 
eager to accompany us back, but stood behind the 
hill anxiously watching our dangerous passage. 

As we passed close by the Onondaga and her 
companion nothing living could be seen on these 
fully manned monitors. They had closed down 
their steel decks while the shells struck, ricocheted 
and fell harmlessly into the water like great 
marbles, as we passed by. A few feet farther on 
was the barge where we had dined with our mili- 
tary escort and where busy hands had helped us 
into the boat. It was now as deserted as if never 
occupied, the men had fled for safety to the woods. 
As we neared the muddy bank one shell struck a 
few feet astern of our boat, sending up a column 
of water like a geyser; another passed close over- 
head with its uncanny blood-curdling shriek, and 
struck the shore just ahead of us, where it ex- 



UNDER FIRE AT DUTCH GAP 155 

ploded, driving pieces of shell and mud in every 
direction. 

On reaching the mud shore, it was almost im- 
possible to mount the rough improvised dock or 
float. However, our escorts pushed and we 
climbed up, with no formalities, and without loss 
of time. At first I could not see my ambulance, 
but soon it came out of the woods with the 
frightened horses dashing down the hill. The 
driver as he turned, shouted, " I can't stop, you 
must get in somehow ! '' Certainly it was " some- 
how " that our officers tumbled us into the rocking 
ambulance as it turned and dashed wildly back into 
the woods. 

No word was spoken until the driver checked 
his mad race and we were out of range of the still 
falling shells, and could congratulate ourselves on 
our narrow escape. We reached camp at twi- 
light, a little excited by our adventure, but quite 
the heroes of the day; and we resolved that it 
would be a long time before we again wandered 
out of camp. 

Since writing the above experience I have found 
in General Butler's autobiography, the only his- 
torical statement of that strategical attempt on the 
James River, and it confirms my memory. This 
work was considered of the greatest military im- 
portance then, and if accomplished as designed, it 
would, without doubt, have given to our navy and 
land forces the control of the river almost directly 
in front of Richmond. This would have shortened 



156 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

by several months the acute warfare by which 
hundreds of lives were sacrificed. 

That it failed when all was prepared to blow out 
the bulk head, and admit our monitors through 
the canal, was due to the fact that the original 
Commander (Smith) was ordered elsewhere, and 
that the new Commander begged Commodore 
Ludlow not to open Dutch Gap because he feared 
that the enemies' fleet would come down, and he 
did not know that he could sustain the attack, etc. 
This Commander was dismissed for cowardice 
later, when he took fright while the enemies' fleet 
attempted to come down the river, and, without 
any attempt at defense, ordered the Potomac to 
make all speed, and only stopped when he knew 
that an accident to the Confederate vessels had 
prevented an assault on the United States Head- 
quarters at City Point, which might have de- 
stroyed the camp and involved an entire change of 
base. 

That one finds little allusion to this engineering 
attempt is doubtless due to the fact that most 
histories of that time were written by West Point 
officers, who gave few details outside their own 
personal experiences; and regard for the gallant 
volunteer service was seldom admitted and too 
often entirely ignored. 

General Butler often fell under this ban, and he 
lost no opportunity, when possible, of publicly 
showing the superior education in tactics of the: 



UNDER FIRE AT DUTCH GAP 157 

volunteer officers and men under his command 
during the war. 

In this personal sketch I do not attempt to write 
history; but give only a few selections regarding 
the expectations then known to many in that local- 
ity of the James River. I have given only a few 
selections from " Butler ". These any one may 
verify, and in doing so will come across many other 
details of interest. 

" Captain Melantha Smith, of the navy, assured 
me that it was impossible for his monitors, draw- 
ing sixteen feet of water, to get up further than 
Trent's Reach. We made a reconnaissance to de- 
vise a plan by which he might ascend the James 
with his vessels, then lying at a point called Dutch 
Gap. 

" Here is a peculiar formation, the river running 
up by Trent's Reach, bends very sharply to the 
right and returns again, in an elongated horseshoe, 
so directly that while it has passed over a distance 
of over seven miles, the waters of the river at a 
depth of twenty-five feet, approach so nearly, that 
there is only about four hundred and twenty-five 
feet from the water on the other side across the 
neck at Dutch Gap to twenty-five feet of water on 
the lower side, so a canal wide and deep enough for 
our gunboats to get through, would require a cut 
less than four hundred feet long, sixteen feet deep, 
sixty feet wide at the bottom and ninety feet at the 
top. 

" After having made a reconnaissance with Cap- 



158 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

tain Smith, then in command of the naval forces of 
the James River, I went down to City Point and 
asked General Grant and Chief Engineer Barnard 
to come up with us to examine the premises. This 
they did and made a careful examination of the 
point. This was known as Dutch Gap for the rea- 
son that some enterprising German had cut quite a 
gap in undertaking to build a waterway through, 
many years before. We came to the conclusion 
that it was a desirable thing to do, and General 
Grant directed me to undertake it. 

" Exploration proved it to be of very hard lime- 
stone and gravel; in it was imbedded petrified 
wood, whole trees being turned into a very friable 
stone, easily broken.* 

" The enemy, appreciating the importance of this 
strategic undertaking, and finding that we could not 
be reached by direct fire of their artillery, erected 
some mortar batteries on the other side of the 
James River. At a mile and a half distance it is 
not easy to drop a shell with any certainty into a 
space three hundred feet long by ninety feet wide. 

" The first thing to do was to station a couple of 
well instructed men at points from which every 
shell could be watched during its wild flight. These 
observers after a little practice could tell almost 

* I still have a piece of this black stone picked up 
at this point, at the time of my visit there in the year 
1864. I have also an excellent cut of the gap at this 
time, better in some details, I think, than the pictures 
in the Butler Autobiography. 



I 



UNDER FIRE AT DUTCH GAP 159 

precisely where the missile would land — whether 
it would come into our excavation. While the 
men were at work, these men were on the watch, 
and if a shell was likely to fall in our way, the 
watchmen would call out " Holes ", whereupon the 
men would rush into the bomb-proofs, and come 
out again and resume work as soon as the shell 
had struck or exploded without harm." 

Dutch Gap has since been dredged out and is a 
main channel for commerce between Richmond and 
the outer world. The waters of the James River 
being directed by the canal, no longer flow around 
through any depth at Trench Reach, and that 
which was the former channel of the river will soon 
become marsh land. Dutch Gap is the only mili- 
tary construction of all that was done by our army, 
which remains of use to the country in time of 
peace; — a monument to its projector and con- 
structor, — one of " Butler's failures ". 

My army friend of 1864, Mr. J. Yates Peek and 
his wife, within a few years, have sailed through 
Butler's Gap, remembering the days of its intended 
strategy and the great disappointment when the 
navy caused its failure. 



160 REMINISCENCES 'OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER XVIII 

DOMESTIC LIFE IN CAMP AND OTHER INCI- 
DENTS 

IN Pennsylvania and New Jersey State quarters 
combined, we had three good-sized connecting 
tents ; and later the little New York house was 
added. 

Our kitchen was generally run by Hannah, a 
rather incompetent contraband, with great won- 
dering eyes and slipshod feet. There were many 
such about camp, girls and women as well as men 
and boys — anxious to work for shelter and food, 
but without knowledge of the value of money, 
which they generally squandered at the sutler's for 
some trifle such as candy, or something to eat. 
Sufficient for the day was their evil tempter. 

A good cooking stove was a great comfort, and 
Doctor Painter, an excellent cook, made our mess 
appetizing. The agents were expected to get their 
sustenance from State supplies, and we could buy 
from the Commissary Department good bread and 
coffee. Our table was made of boards resting on 
barrels, and sometimes we were quite stylish, hav- 
ing a white tablecloth instead of newspapers. Our 
dishes, mostly of tin, served quite well for hungry, 
hurried appetites. 

Our reception tent, which was the largest, had at 
first a bunk in one corner where the rain sometimes 



DOMESTIC LIFE IN CAMP 161 

percolated through the canvas walls, and one morn- 
ing, — my pillow touching the wet wall of the tent, 
— I found my head in a little puddle of water. But 
I was in better health, if possible, than before. We 
laughed at these happenings, also when the rain 
ran in streams over our ground floor and at night 
we were obliged to sit resting, or writing by the 
light of candles stuck in bottles, with our feet on 
logs to keep them dry. Meanwhile a log fire 
burned cheerfully in the rough mud and log chim- 
ney. A barrel was placed on top for draught. It 
sometimes caught fire, but some one always man- 
aged to discover it, and knocked it off without set- 
ting fire to the canvas roofs. Our barrel chairs 
were not luxurious, but, like everything in camp, 
they served their purpose. 

Though our tents were not transparent, the can- 
dle distinctly silhouetted our forms on the walls as 
we sat talking with friends, so that passers could 
recognize visitors and perhaps wait for a more 
favorable time to call. During the day our tent 
flaps were always open hospitably. Agents and 
officers often visited and talked of home, friends, 
comforts, etc., while each was always ready to as- 
sist in an emergency. Convalescents often got 
leave to come for some luxury or necessity; they 
craved fruit and vegetables, especially onions, and 
one so craved this luxury that he offered me fifty 
cents for one. Of course it became a gift, and one 
that was greatly enjoyed. 

The wife of the Ohio agent, a pretty brunette 



162 REMINISCENCES GF AN ARMY NURSE 

with long black curls and black eyes, became very 
ill. Their small tents were not comfortable. All 
the ladies helped in many ways to make her limita- 
tions less trying. We were fearful of a sad ending 
as she lay helplessly weak for many days, but youth 
and courage, with good care, at last put her upon 
her feet again quite well. 

An extremely annoying encounter occurred while 
I was with Mrs. Painter in my little house attached 
to another tent. One evening, with considerable 
clatter, an officer, followed by his orderly, halted 
at my door and knocked for admission. I saw at 
once that this otherwise fine young man, from 
Brooklyn, was under the influence of liquor. There 
was no escape and I must, if possible, get along 
peaceably with him. 

My friends in the next tent could hear every 
word and could have helped me to get rid of him, 
but they thought it a good joke to get me cornered, 
while they laughed and quietly enjoyed the inter- 
view. 

" Miss Smith ", mumbled the visitor, " I'm so 
glad to see you. I told the fer-rers I'd give fifty 
dollars for an introduction to you, when I saw you 
on the ch-cha-chapel platform singing just as if you 
didn't care fu-fur any body ". 

I could think of no plan to get rid of him, and still 
hoped my friends would come to my rescue. 

" Oh, Miss Smith ", he went on, '' I wish I had a 
ba-ba-badge like yours. Couldn't you give it to 
me?" 



DOMESTIC LIFE IN CAMP 163 

Thinking to escape his effusions and to hasten 
his exit, I took off my precious Lincoln mourning 
badge and handed it to him. But he grew more 
persistent, saying: 

" Wouldn't you just pin-pin it on? " 

In silent indignation and protest I did so, to his 
great satisfaction. Then as his speech grew more 
indistinct, he added : " W-w-when I tell the fer- 
rers that M-Miss Smith put-put that on, they'll all 
be ravin' jealous!" 

I do not remember how at last I got him out of 
the little house. I saw his orderly help him to 
mount a superb horse that had impatiently pawed 
the ground since he entered. 

My indignation passed for little above the shouts 
of laughter at my discomfiture that for once I was 
caught in a dilemma. 

But this recalcitrant young officer received a 
startling communication on the following day 
which, doubtless, caused a permanent revulsion of 
admiration. 

The wife of an officer, with her four year old 
girl, was very anxious to join her husband at the 
front. Knowing that I held a pass, she persuaded 
me to take her to the camp, which might have made 
me considerable trouble, as she could not get per- 
mission from Headquarters. Being willing to help 
her, if possible, I sent for an ambulance and driver, 
and we started over the corduroy roads, ditches, 
ruts and mud, — a foot deep in some places, — 
occasionally in danger of being overturned, as we 



164 REMINISCENCES'OF AN ARMY NURSE 

rode at times partly on one wheel or two, rarely on 
four. In a sudden lurch this mother so lost her 
head with fright that she raised her feet and shot 
out on one side into the " Sacred Soil " of Virginia, 
quite up to her knees. I grasped the child and 
flung myself with her on the opposite side, thus 
righting the ambulance, and feeling little sympathy 
for the mother who forgot her child, though her 
feet were completely covered with mud. We 
found her husband in camp, and I left them quite 
happy in their tent before Petersburg. 

One of our surgeons owned a superb black horse 
that was so intelligent, one could not pass him with- 
out petting him. This he greatly enjoyed, and he 
showed that he remembered me. His handsome 
owner remarked, " I'm soon going to take you for 
a ride on him ". 

" O, you are, indeed. I believe it takes two to 
make an engagement, and I have reasons for not 
wishing to ride with you ", I replied. *' Good 
morning ! " and so I left him greatly incensed. 

Officers were constantly riding about our camp, 
and among them was Doctor Weir Mitchell of the 
cavalry, now the distinguished nerve specialist of 
Philadelphia, and author of many scientific works 
as well as novels. He often dashed down our row 
on a spirited horse, his long hair floating back, , 
while his yellow-lined cape, thrown over his shoul- 
der, made him a conspicuous figure. 

Doctor Olmstead, of the 6gth Regiment, at| 
Brooklyn man, had received a wound in his foot:; 



DOMESTIC LIFE IN CAMP 165 

from a spent ball, and for some time limped quite 
comfortably about camp. We much enjoyed his 
occasional calls and his kindly courtesy. I wear, 
on occasion, a silver trefoil of the 2d Division, 2d 
Corps, to which he belonged, made from a silver 
quarter (scarce in those days) and urged upon me 
by a grateful boy patient. Doctor Olmstead was 
kind enough to send it to Washington and have it 
made. It is now a much valued relic. 

On Christmas Day, 1864, Mrs. Painter, wishing 
to make a pleasant surprise with home-made cheer 
for her son, Hettie K. Painter, who was still in 
charge of the telegraph at Hatch's Run, again in- 
vited me to accompany her. 

After the usual bumping over corduroy and other 
bad roads near the point, we found him in his little 
improvised office and living room. Doctor Painter 
with the assistance of a cheerful contraband helper 
soon prepared a surprisingly comfortable Christ- 
mas dinner, which was greatly enjoyed by our little 
party. 

During this homely visit, Hettie Painter re- 
marked to me, " Miss Smith you are always look- 
ing up some souvenir of the war, here is something 
that you may appreciate. This is a telegram from 
General Sherman, received here this morning en 
route, and I immediately forwarded a copy to Pres- 
ident Lincoln in Washington. It is therefore a 
copy of the message before it was despatched to 
the President ". 

Much pleased with this souvenir, now a relic of 



166 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

that wonderful conquest, I have preserved it care- 
fully. Some months since I presented it to the 
U. S. Grant Post of Brooklyn, and by them it was 
neatly framed and is now in the fine military mu- 
seum of that post's relics. The following is a ver- 
batim copy : 

" The United States Military Telegraph 
Savannah, Ga., 23, 1864 
Via Fortress Monroe, 25. 
To his Excellency, President Lincoln : 

I beg leave to present you as a Christmas gift the 
City of Savannah, 150 guns and plenty of ammuni- 
tion; also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton. 

W. T. SHERMAN, 
Major General." 

I mailed it to my home, writing on the back, 
" This despatch was just received by a telegraph 
reporter. It is the first reliable original telegram." 



LOVE IN CAMP 167 

CHAPTER XIX 
LOVE IN CAMP 

MISS ANNIE BAIN was still with us, and 
had become my friend, and my companion, 
when time permitted. She made a restful 
change in the monotony of daily incessant hard 
work when, except for letter writing or in some 
extreme case when a dying soldier called us out, 
we remained during the evening in our tents. 

Impossible as it seemed for a woman without 
pass or authority, Miss Bain succeeded, with little 
difficulty, in reaching City Point. A little tearful 
entreaty from a beautiful young woman has often 
moved the heart of the strictest disciplinarian. 
Upon reporting at City Point to that ogre of the 
department to all stragglers and irregulars, General 
Patrick, he gave her protection and permission to 
remain until her brother should receive his fur- 
lough. 

Meanwhile Captain Robert Eden, of the 37th 
Wisconsin Regiment, whose wound was but slight, 
had returned to his post, and was at the front. 
There Miss Bain was not allowed to follow. But 
word soon reached the Captain, and in a day or two 
after Miss Bain's arrival he dashed into camp on 
his fine bay horse, well dusted after his long ride. 
He was a six-foot, broad-shouldered, ruddy young 
Englishman, and was brimming over with antici- 
pation and happiness. 



168 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

The first meeting, however, betrayed the secret 
that *' Bob " was the lover for whom this cour- 
ageous girl had braved the perils of the ocean, and 
the dangers and uncertainties of a country at war. 




MRS. R. C. EDEN 



Miss Bain explained that " Bob " was her adopted 
brother, and she feared that he might die of his 
wounds if left to strangers, and so she had come 
hoping to take care of him. 



LOVE IN CAMP 



169 



Captain Eden was promised a furlough and pro- 
motion but it was long deferred. It was decided 
that when the promised furlough came they would 
go at once to Washington for the marriage cere- 
mony and for a honeymoon trip. Bob managed to 




COL. R. C. EDEN 



get an occasional pass from his regiment, then in 
camp before Petersburg always ready for orders to 
advance for action. 

It was well that Annie had succeeded in gaining 



170 REMINISCENCES PP AN ARMY NURSE 

from the department of the Provost Marshal Gen- 
eral, the privilege of remaining till Captain " Bob " 
should receive his furlough. And well it was that 
the words took that form, for three months passed 
and yet no furlough came, while " Bob " stormed 
and laughed, impatient, though happy in anticipa- 
tion, while he continued to make flying visits to our 
quarters. 

At last envy, loving a lofty mark, and not know- 
ing the goodness and purity that were her guide, 
sought some explanation of Annie's quiet reserve 
which ungratified curiosity magnified into many 
vague surmises, and which were now taking the 
form of unpleasant rumor. Annie at last became 
conscious of the false position in which she ap- 
peared, and which was chiefly due to the presence 
in camp of a handsome young lady having no os- 
tensible object for her stay. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas passed with good 
dinners sent to the soldiers by the liberality of citi- 
zens, who also sent agents to assist in the distribu- 
tion. Some accessories were supplied by the Hos- 
pital Department, and the ladies in camp, with 
much taste and ingenuity in arrangement and dec- 
oration of the stockade dining barracks or " mess 
hall ", produced a really fine display, and gave to 
the ever unsatisfied convalescent soldier " a good 
square meal ". 

Meanwhile, though with womanly tact Annie 
endeavored to hide her anxiety, my sympathy 
soon discovered " the worm in the bud " that sad- 



LOVE IN CAMP 171 

dened the eye and paled the cheek of the fair girl. 
Something must be done, and that quickly. A 
bold thought came to me; but extreme cases re- 
quire heroic treatment, and after all we can but 
fail. 

With assumed indifference, breaking in upon one 
of her reveries, I said, "Annie, you are unhappy ". 

" Why no. Miss Smith, I am very happy ", she 
answered trying to believe herself sincere. 

" Well, never mind, I know all about it, Annie, 
and am very sorry too, but mean to help you if you 
will allow me." 

With an expectant yet alarmed glance she ex- 
claimed: " Why, what can you do? " 

'' No matter ; but will you answer truly one ques- 
tion? In the first place you know it is necessary 
for me to start for Albany at once to see Governor 
Fenton, and Mrs. Painter is called home on busi- 
ness; and you cannot be left here alone. You are 
distressed and unhappy, and with reason ; Bob can- 
not go to Washington, as you well know, and now 
please answer without reserve. If Bob should wish 
to marry you here, in camp, will you consent? " 

" Why, we could not be married here," she ex- 
claimed. 

" That can be managed if you will give your 
answer." 

" Well, yes, I would ", she replied reluctantly. 

But womanly delicacy instantly repented and she 
added, " O, I would not for the world have Bob 
think I am in the least bit of a hurry." 



172 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

" Don't think of that! He shall never know of 
this conversation unless you are willing; and you 
will have nothing more to do about it." 

In the course of the next hour a letter was writ- 
ten to Bob, in which her real position was plainly 
set forth, adding the very unpleasant suggestion, 
that should he fall in the expected battle, the poor 
girl would be doubly miserable. And further, if, 
after calm deliberation, he wished to place her 
rightly in camp, and marry her here in the Field 
Hospital, it was only necessary to telegraph at once 
and come to City Point at five P. M. to-morrow, 
and it should be done with every arrangement 
made. 

A rare chance had brought to our tent that day 
an officer of Captain Eden's regiment, by whom 
the letter was at once dispatched. Little suspect- 
ing its importance, he delivered it at midnight to 
his comrade, as he dreamed by his camp fire of the 
long deferred day when Annie should be all his 
own. Astonishment and indignation, at the 
thought of an injustice to the brave girl who had 
dared all in her devotion to him, at once cleared 
away the mists of romance that had surrounded 
his bright visions of the future. 

By the first trembling of the morning wires came 
the telegram, "All right, on the way to City Point 
on horseback ". This was shown to Annie, who 
trembled with anxiety and mortification lest he 
should think her deficient in maidenly reserve; but 
we laughed away her fears and said nothing. Still 



LOVE IN CAMP 173 

I would not take any decisive action in this emer- 
gency until he came and assured me of his earnest 
wish. So the morning wore slowly on until nearly 
noon, when Hannah " the great-eyed " stumbled 
into the tent, — her usual manner of entering, — 
saying, " Lor, Miss Smith, Mass Bob dun come 
ridin' way down de road, ready to broke him neck ". 

I slipped quietly out of the tent as he dashed up 
on his fine horse, well flecked with foam, and pulled 
rein for the first time in fifteen miles of Virginia 
road! Covered with dust, but without a thought 
of fatigue, he sprang to the ground and, with a 
hearty grasp of my hand, exclaimed, " Colonel, 
you're a trump! Never would have thought it 
possible ! " and with a significant gesture he whis- 
pered, *' Do you mean it? " 

" Certainly ! " was the suppressed reply, for tents 
are all ears. 

Laughingly he continued, '' Couldn't get a pass 
so came without it. Ha, ha! must be back to- 
night ! " 

" Well, there's no time to lose ; go and persuade 
Annie, and be ready at five P. M. sharp. It is now 
nearly noon, and all is yet to be done." 

With a bound. Bob was by Annie's side, while 
she, half alarmed, was yet too happy in his presence 
to speak the thoughts that caused her heart to leap 
with a strange emotion. 

It must have been like some wild dream when I 
said ''Annie, Bob has something to say to you 
alone ; so for once he may enter our sanctum ". 



174 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

And unpinning the flap of the little tent attached to 
a larger one, they disappeared within. 

Gathering my scattered thoughts, I ejaculated, 
" Let's see, what first? Ah, here comes Mary 
Blackmar. I want you to put on your other dress 
and be here at five P. M." 

Her fine hazel eyes dilating in wonder, she ex- 
claimed, " What ails you, Colonel? " 

" Nothing, only we are going to have a wedding 
in camp, and you're to be second bridesmaid for 
Annie." 

" Impossible ! " 

*' Can't be helped. Manage your work some- 
how. You must come just the same, and Mr. Peek 
is to stand with you. Good-bye, — we're off for 
the clergyman. Remember, five P. M., and, one 
moment, — not a word in camp." 

Meanwhile Sister Painter had sent for her or- 
derly and ambulance, into which I quickly sprang 
while she called out with cheery significance, 
" Good luck ! Good luck ! " and the impatient pair 
of grey horses dashed off through camp to the 
Cavalry Corps Hospital nearly a mile distant, to 
secure the services of Chaplain Mines, the only 
Episcopal clergyman in that department. 

An unusually cold air chilled us as we drove up 
to the tasteful little office of the Chaplain. His 
orderly saluted, and awaited my order. '' Please 
ask the Chaplain to step here as quickly as pos- 
sible." 



LOVE IN CAMP 175 

To my consternation he replied " Chaplain Mines 
went North this morning ! " 

Dumbfounded at this news, and greatly dis- 
tressed, I hardly knew what to do next. The driver 
was shivering, and evidently in doubt too, as he 
asked " Where shall I drive now? " 

'' To — to — O, I don't know — that is, drive 
back." 

What could be done? Away we sped and my 
perplexity increased, for I well knew that none but 
the Church of England service could give sanction 
to this pair in matrimony. "O, I have it, drive to 
the Christian Commission." 

In fifteen minutes we found Mr. Houghton, head 
of this commission. '' Do you know ", I cried 
breathlessly, " you are to be best man at a wedding 
this afternoon, and I'm to be first bridesmaid, and 
— well — there is no Episcopalian clergyman in 
this camp? You must help us out of this dilemma. 
Will you not ask one of your ministers to perform 
the service by the Episcopal form? " 

With a twinkle in his keen gray eye he remarked 
" I think I shall order a straight jacket, and — " 

" Never mind ! Order what you like, but not a 
word in camp, or we shall have more assistance 
than we desire. Though this must not be done in a 
corner, yet one from each post will suffice. If it 
gets out we might have hundreds. We ladies will 
represent the States, Mr. Peek the Sanitary Com- 
mission, and you, Mr. Houghton, the Christian 
Commission, and — at five P. M, you'll know the 



176 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

rest, for there is yet much to do. I'm off now for 
General Patrick." 

Again we dashed off over the rough frozen roads, 
this time in the direction of General Grant's Head- 
quarters, near the James side of the Point. The 
day was intensely cold, and only a guard was visi- 
ble, marking his frozen beat. As we approached 
he called an orderly, who immediately appeared 
and received the message "Ask General Patrick if 
he can be seen ". 

" General Patrick went North yesterday ! " 

" How long will he remain? " 

" Till to-morrow night." 

Match-making was becoming a doubtful experi- 
ment. " Has everybody gone North? " I dubi- 
ously inquired. 

The orderly suggested " The General's adjutant, 
Captain Beckwith is here." 

" Oh, indeed, I don't know ////// except by sight; 
a young man and good-looking. If only he wasn't. 
Wonder what General Grant would say if he were 
asked ! " But a consideration of the cares of that 
overworked public servant saved //////. 

At last, in desperation, I said, "Ask the Adjutant 
if he will please step here for a moment," inwardly 
adding " If we do not perish with cold in this at- 
tempt, we might hereafter make our headquarters 
at the North Pole ! " 

Captain Beckwith came out of the office and po- 
litely waited my request. A poor attempt at in- 
difference was not helped by my hesitating words 



LOVE IN CAMP 177 

— Captain, I — er — I wish to speak to you 
privately. Is your office occupied? " 

He replied gravely and politely, " There are 
officers now in my tent ". 

" Well then, will you please step into the am- 
bulance, as it is necessary to have your advice and 
assistance." 

Apparently anticipating a torpedo, when only a 
flag of truce was offered, — rather dimly to be 
sure, — he cautiously took his seat without a word. 

How shall I quickly explain? Why doesn't he 
say something — not a word — one or the other 
must drop preliminary caution, or the words will 
freeze on our lips. So I blundered out "Are you 
engaged at five P. M.? " 

He replied that he thought he was. Whereupon 
I told him the whole story, and he soon changed his 
plans. 

"As General Patrick is away," I said, " will you 
come and witness the ceremony? " 

" But I'm afraid it " 

" Nonsense, Miss Bain has remained by permis- 
sion of General Patrick. We wish you, as his rep- 
resentative, to give your countenance and endorse- 
ment to the affair." 

Now he was interested, and finally agreed to be 
on hand. Away we hurried back to the Christian 
Commission, and found we had only two hours left. 

After returning from the Cavalry Corps Hos- 
pital I found Bob within the tent standing alone 
with a gloomy and discontented expression upon 



178 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

his face. I took the alarm and said quickly: 
" There is something wrong, Bob. If you are in- 
tending to marry Annie because you think you 
must, don't do it, she's too good a girl to be forced 
upon any man in that manner. Now is your time 
to retreat. What is the matter? " 

With a merry laugh, Bob said soothingly: 
" There, there. Colonel, you are wasting ammuni- 
tion. Why, don't you know that nothing in the 
world could make me so happy as to marry the 
dear girl, and if we succeed I can never repay this 
great kindness, so don't waste time or thought on 
that point ! " 

But the cloud once more passed over his face. 
What did it mean? Half repenting the new role, I 
was hurrying away, when a neglected message 
came to my mind, and I called out, " O, Bob ! 
Major Baker, before going North, requested me to 
say he had left forty dollars for you with the sutler 
at the Point ! " 

The cloud vanished, as he sprang up and ex- 
claimed: " Did he? Bless his old heart! I must 
run down and get it." 

"Why, how delighted you seem; one would think 
it was a fortune." 

"O no, — but you see — er well, it is — all 
right now." 

The cloud was explained ! How mortal we are ! 
The poor fellow was " dead broke " and of course 
had no fee for the clergyman. This seemed a small 
matter, but for several months that ever-welcome 



LOVE IN CAMP 179 

individual, the Pay-master, had not reported to the 
conseq,uently bankrupt " front ", so there was noth- 
ing to borrow, for as long as a dollar remained in 
camp, it was the common property of the " Boys ". 

On the road shortly after, we met Bob beaming 
as a sunflower, radiant in a brand new pair of yel- 
low buckskin gauntlets, high cavalry boots, freshly 
blacked, hair and beard barbered, dust swept off 
his faded uniform, and with a clean paper collar. 
The owner of this elegant wedding attire called out 
merrily — " How are you progressing. Colonel? " 

" Finely," was the brief though hardly conscien- 
tious reply, which was scarcely verified on reaching 
the Christian Commission again, when Mr. Hough- 
ton said : " I can find no one willing to perform 
that ceremony ! " 

Descending from the ambulance and passing into 
the quarters occupied by Rev. Mr. and Mrs. A., I 
asked the former to assist in giving away the bride, 
which he at once consented to do. But the most 
important character was still wanting. 

"Ah, Rev. G., will you not as a home friend 
kindly perform this service? " 

*' With pleasure by the Methodist form, but I 
have conscientious scruples about using another 
service ! " 

" Well, please send some one else." 

This one had scruples too. This seemed an 
absurd prejudice to stand in the way of so much 
happiness. The fourth or fifth minister was " per- 
fectly willing " but hadn't the least idea of an Epis- 



180 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

copal service. Verily this was the pursuit of hap- 
piness under difficulties. But I rejoiced then that 
all obstacles seemed to be at last overcome. Grate- 
ful to this liberal Methodist minister I thanked him 
and said : " If you are willing, please wait a mo- 
ment." 

Running quickly to Mr. Houghton, he soon found 
a prayer book and a key, — not of the book but 
of the chapel door. How the time flew! Four 
hours and thirty minutes gone; only twenty-five 
minutes left! The minister and I entered the 
chapel, where I explained to him the form of the 
Episcopal service, and to save time enacted the part 
of the groom, the bride and the other necessary 
characters. Much delighted with this service, he 
was proceeding finely when we came to the giving 
of the ring. " Oh, how about the ring," he asked. 
Here was another dilemma. Shades of the God- 
dess of Matrimony! A ring! and in camp, where 
jewelry was conspicuous only by its absence ! My 
only ring, a garnet cluster, would not serve for a 
wedding ring, yet a ring must be had. Leaving 
the reverend absorbed in his part I ran to the tent 
again and rushed in upon Bob and Annie, happy 
and quite oblivious of time, forgetting almost my 
presence, and that it was for their marriage, that I 
had stirred up every department in the great hos- 
pital and the U. S. Headquarters. 

In a tone of dismay I exclaimed : " What shall 
we do for a ring? It is impossible to find one in 
this last moment." 



LOVE IN CAMP 181 

But to my intense amazement and great relief 
Miss Bain in a most matter of fact manner replied, 
" Why, I have a plain ring in my valise." This she 
placed in my hand, and I gave it to Bob, who de- 
posited it safely for the auspicious moment. So I 
sped happily away, calling back, " Be ready in five 
minutes ! " 

And now we must marshal our forces and pre- 
pare for the silent wedding march, for which no 
Mendelssohn or Lohengrin could give sweet music, 
and which must be under cover to avoid attracting 
attention. At this moment an orderly hastily en- 
tered saying, " Mr. A. is very sorry, but a telegram 
has ordered him directly to the Point, and Mr. Peek 
is nowhere to be found ! " 

" Perhaps he has taken a telegraphic shock, too !" 

"All the rest here?" 

'' Yes ; but now. Captain Beckwith, you must be 
promoted to second groomsman." 

Ignoring his objections in this latest emergency, 
I turned to Mrs. Painter, asking : " Will you give 
away the bride, thus standing for her mother? " 

Equal to any emergency she replied : " We 
Friends do not understand thy services, but what 
will thee have me to do? " 

" There is no time now to study up, but when the 
Pastor asks ' Who giveth this woman to be married 
to this man? ' just step forward and say, ' I do '." 

There was no danger of failure there. " Now 
wait until I run again to the chapel, to see if our 



182 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

minister is sufficiently coached, and then let the 
conquering victims come ! " 

The good man was ready, and quite delighted 
with the beautiful service. When we disagreed 
about the positions to be taken, he good-naturedly 
allowed himself to be backed against the rough 
little pulpit, and with an expression of amused curi- 
osity prepared for the now waiting couple. 

Perhaps a dozen camp friends had quietly en- 
tered and seated themselves to witness the cere- 
mony, and all was ready. Hastily returning once 
more to our tent, and finding every one ready, and 
fearing that our little secret might be discovered, 
we ordered " Double quick ". Bob and I went first 
together, the two groomsmen and bridesmaid en- 
tered from different directions. Sister Painter 
came next with the bride, and even in her well 
worn, patched brown ' every day ', with travelling 
hat and pretty collar, she seemed quite beautiful. 
Hannah covered the retreat. 

As we arranged our little wedding procession, 
the solemnity of the occasion became impressive, 
while the shades of evening struggled through the 
bare windows of the large chapel, and the gleam of 
half a dozen candles cast a glow over the Pastor's 
form as he stood, book in hand, awaiting the first 
sight of the twain, now slowly approaching. All 
fell, quietly and orderly, into position. And there, 
far from home and dear friends, in the roughly 
boarded, unplaned, unpainted structure where " the 
Boys in Blue " so often gathered to hear the words 



LOVE IN CAMP 183 

of love and truth, was solemnly performed the 
beautiful ceremony, without a pause or interrup- 
tion, which joined two loving hearts as one in holy 
bonds, never to be severed on earth. " Whom God 
hath joined together, let no man put asunder ". 

More than one silent tear of thankfulness fell as 
the last prayer died away on the lips of the good 
man, who had so beautifully solemnized this insti- 
tution. 

Night had now fallen as all joyfully congratu- 
lated the noble looking, happy pair. They walked 
arm in arm, man and wife, back to our tents, where 
we quietly followed, no rumor having reached the 
alert ears of the poor weary fellows, anxious for a 
break in the monotony of hospital life. 

The guests at the reception in our large tent con- 
sisted only of our own little party, and the refresh- 
ments were composed of a couple of bottles of Sis- 
ter Painter's home-made wine, and a '* wolverine " 
cake, hastily made by Mary Blackmar's willing 
hands. 

P.ev. wrote the certificate, and we had a 

merry time in witnessing it; while our tent was il- 
luminated with two extra candles in bottles, and 
the wind made sweet music above our laughter on 
the swaying canvas roof. The great black log 
blazed brightly, now and then snapping out a sharp 
shout of joy, and all went merrily as the traditional 
marriage bell. 

Bob, of course, was obliged to return at once to 
his regiment; leaving his bride for a day or two 



184 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

while he cleaned up his regimental quarters, and 
obtained permission to go to housekeeping where 
bullets rained and shells stormed, and thither he 
took his happy bride. 

About two weeks later came the furlough, and 
the Major's commission. On my return from my 
interview with Governor Fenton in Albany, I met 
the wedded pair in Washington, going North, 
where their festivities were continued among their 
friends with suitable formalities. 



NEW YORK STATE AGENCY 185 



CHAPTER XX 
NEW YORK STATE AGENCY 

QUITE unknown to me, the State Agents and 
the two Commissions had formulated an ap- 
peal to have me supersede Mrs. Spencer, 
then New York State Agent in the field, and urged 
that I go at once to Governor Fenton at Albany to 
have it confirmed. So the day after the wedding I 
started for New York on a government transport. 

Mr. Houghton was also going North. The 
rumor of a wedding had already spread over camp, 
and Mr. Houghton and I were congratulated as the 
happy couple on our wedding trip. This caused a 
great deal of merriment. 

Captain Blackman of the transport, was very 
kind and made the trip on the shabby boat quite 
pleasant. My little cabin was suffocating at night, 
and I left my door open with a light burning in the 
narrow passage-way, while the engineer and his 
wife slept opposite. Quite exhausted with prepa- 
rations for the wedding and for my trip North, I 
fell into a heavy sleep. Some time during the night 
I was awakened by heavy hands passing up and 
down my body. I awoke in total darkness, and 
was too dazed at first to comprehend the situation, 
but at last I managed to exclaim " Who are you, 
and what do you want? " 



186 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

A coarse voice, in broken English, said, " I want 
a place to sleep ! " 

I called for a light and help, when in a very calm 
manner the intruder said : " O, don't put yourself 
in a stew ! " On his hastily retreating footsteps I 
quickly closed and locked the door. The engineer 
had doubtless extinguished the light in the passage 
before he closed their door. 

The next day we stopped at Fortress Monroe, 
and were allowed to examine the interior of the 
Fort, and that great mounted black gun called 
" The Swamp Angel " which was reputed to throw 
a shot of four hundred pounds ! 

In Washington we met our old friend Major 
Baker ; and when we walked up Pennsylvania Ave- 
nue toward the Capitol we saw the effect of an 
unusual freak of the wind. A large flag was flying 
at the top from either wing of the great building 
and both flags blew in towards each other, standing 
out immovable without a fold as if held by some 
material background. The effect was peculiar. 

But I spent little time sight-seeing, and took the 
afternoon train for New York. 

Upon arriving at my home in Bedford Avenue, 
Brooklyn, there were many matters to attend to, 
and I had little time to spend with my family. I 
then started for Albany. At Troy we crossed the 
river in a sleigh on thick ice. I had been invited 
to stop at the home of my former patient John C. 
Guffin, where I met his father, mother and brother. 
The parents reminded me of Abraham and Sarah. 



NEW YORK STATE AGENCY 187 

They seemed to have dropped out of the Old Testa- 
ment, as they talked in Scripture language quite 
difficult for me to understand. 

The hilly streets of Albany were covered with 
ice, and although a natural climber, I could not keep 
my footing, and so I simply sat down and slid to 
the bottom of those hills. Governor Fenton was 
away when I arrived, and I was obliged to remain 
three days waiting for him. During this time these 
hospitable patriarchs gave me, three times a day, 
only buckwheat cakes and tea, which peculiar diet 
caused a severe headache. I was very glad when I 
could get away. I never experienced such cold as 
during that visit. 

Governor Fenton was very courteous, and, after 
examining the appeal made by all the State Agen- 
cies, the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, he 
soon granted the request and gave me the Com- 
mission of New York State agent, with directions 
to report to Mr. Morgan, head of New York State 
Agency in Washington. 

On my return to Washington I met Mr. Morgan, 
and received from him the following commission : 

" New York State Agency, 

181 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
Washington, D. C, February 22, 1865. 

Colonel T. S. Bowers, 

A. A. G. Armies, United States. 
Sir: 

Miss Ada W. Smith has been appointed agent of 
the State of New York for the relief of her soldiers. 



188 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

I respectfully commend her to your kind considera- 
tion, assuring you that every facility given her for 
carrying out the object of her mission will be appreci- 
ated. 

Very truly, 

D. G. MORGAN, 
Supt. N. Y. S. Military Agency." 

Mr. Morgan directed me to report to City Point 
and to relieve Mrs. Spencer. 

On my return to City Point I met Major and 
Mrs. Eden. Having received his promotion and a 
furlough, they were on their wedding trip North. 
I was glad to return to City Point camp life and 
duty, with congratulations on all sides. The next 
day, with an ambulance and a friend, I went to Mrs. 
Spencer's quarters and showed her my commission, 
saying, " I would like to take possession in a few 
days ". 

Mrs. Spencer had been charged with partiality 
to McClellan men, and refusing Republican soldiers 
tobacco, etc. Politics, even in the army, caused 
many somersaults, and were quite beyond my man- 
agement; and through some strategy my commis- 
sion was revoked at City Point, though I retained 
the commission as New York agent in general ! 

There were then some indications of the collapse 
of the Confederacy, and that when this frightful 
war was over the agencies would also collapse. 
However, I kept on working in the old way, while 
my indignant Repiablican friends threatened, and 
tried to storm the New York State Agency. Poli- 
tics ran high and many lost their heads politically. 



NEW YORK STATE AGENCY 189 

Many convalescent copperheads and Democrats, 
enlisted men, were allowed to go home to vote for 
president. 

Doctor Painter, a strong Republican, incurred 
the displeasure of General Patrick, a Democrat, by 
some manipulations which enabled her to get 
enough passes for Jersey soldiers to go home to 
vote and so balance the Democratic vote. 

Many one-armed and one-legged men were mov- 
ing about camp, waiting orders to report to Wash- 
ington, where the Government would supply them 
with artificial limbs and discharge them. It was 
surprising how many were well fitted with these 
limbs, and that many could walk so well that only a 
slight limp betrayed them ; while others with neatly 
gloved hands, which they could sometimes use 
quite well, were seldom observed in passing. 

A young lieutenant from Maine, had lost a leg, 
and was lying, weary and helpless, on his hospital 
cot. He had written, as had many another poor 
fellow crippled for life, to his fiancee, offering to 
resign his claim, and he was now feverishly await- 
ing her reply. Day after day passed, and still no 
answer, while we tried every device to encourage 
him. He said " I know how it will be ! " He be- 
came bitter and scornful and made no effort to live. 
While it was scarcely possible in any case that he 
could recover from this usually fatal thigh fracture, 
we still hoped that he might at least receive some 
word of comfort before he died. 

I seldom went into the wards after nightfall, but 



190 REMINISCENCES QF AN ARMY NURSE 

the dying boy sent for me quite late one night. 
Hoping that some kind word had come at last, I 
hastened to his side. None had come and, con- 
scious that his life was fast ebbing away, he had 
only bitterness for his former sweetheart and died 
with these cruel thoughts. 

I wrote his friend, simply announcing his death ; 
but a few days later came her reply, full of grief. 
She had received no letter, nor knew anything of 
his wounds. They had been friends from child- 
hood and she could not believe she would never see 
him again. '' Had he not mentioned her or left 
some word? " My reply was the saddest and most 
difficult of all sad letters, for — " It might have 
been ". I tried to think of some word which he 
had dropped which might be happily construed, 
and I certainly strained a point to give this poor 
heart-stricken girl some little comfort to remember 
fromthe boy lover of her childhood. 

A few days later his comrades carried him to a 
mournful tune of fife and drum, and fired a last 
salute over his lonely grave. 

" Of all sad words of tongue or pen, 
The saddest are these, it might have been." 



A HOUSE MOVING 191 

CHAPTER XXI 
A HOUSE MOVING 

GENERAL COLLIS, then in command of the 
colored brigade at the Point, on abandoning 
his adjutant's little frame house or office 
about fifteen feet by ten, kindly gave it to me. A 
large army wagon on which it was raised, for re- 
moval, supported by a squad of soldiers on either 
side, and hauled by six mules, made quite an im- 
pression coming up Agency Row, especially as it 
carried away the telegraph wires over the road. 
One of our large tents was moved to give it space, 
and the real door and little glass window in it made 
us quite the envy of the Row. It was divided into 
two rooms, having a tent roof. The front room 
was for business purposes. The smaller, which 
had a window about a foot square, was large 
enough only for a bunk with a straw bed, a packing 
box for a dresser, a hand glass and a barrel chair, 
and so New York was added to Pennsylvania and 
New Jersey Agencies. 

This recalls a night incident somewhat later, 
when Mrs. Painter and I were sleeping in the bunk. 
I was startled by Mrs. Painter springing up on to 
the dresser and screaming loudly, " Murder ! 
Thieves ! Help ! " almost in the face of a scamp 
at the window, who was evidently trying to reach 
the wines hidden under the dresser. Mrs. Painter 
was a very small woman of the old time Quaker 
stamp, and she wore a little white night cap, and 



192 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

the proverbial short gown and petticoat. As the 
poor fellow took to his heels and the neighbouring 
tents were aroused, I could only lie still and laugh 
at the ludicrous scene. He lost a great army shoe 
which rested conspicuously on a rise of ground, 
quite distant. 

Another amusing incident comes to my mind in 
connection with my little house. One night there 
came a thundering knock on the door, on which 
remained the word " Adjutant ". On opening I 
found a soldier standing at attention and more than 
" half-seas-over ", so that he could not distinguish 
a woman from an officer. He had been on fur- 
lough, and insisted on my taking his pass, but at 
last I succeeded in starting him for the proper 
office. 

An incident occurs to me of a New York news- 
paper reporter who was invited to the mess of Gen- 
eral Grant and staff. While drinking was more 
common than now, no one so far forgot himself as 
to become intoxicated in the presence of the Gen- 
eral, whose self-control and rigid discipline all re- 
spected. But this man so demeaned himself as to 
" get under the table ", and the officers present 
were excited to the utmost contempt and indig- 
nation at this breach of etiquette in the presence of 
the commander of the United States Armies. If 
intoxication had been common at Headquarters, 
camp gossip would certainly have travelled the half 
mile to the state agencies and brought us news of 
it. General Grant, however, was unhappily ad- 



A HOUSE MOVING 193 

dieted to the excessive use of tobacco, which 
eventually caused him much suffering, and, later, 
his life. 

MISS JONES, OF PHILADELPHIA 
How few, even of the army veterans, remember 
the sacrifices of the " Women of the War " in hos- 
pitals, homes and elsewhere! In the many G. A. 
R. annual Memorial services held since the war, 
when they are received in churches to hear their 
heroic deeds extolled, never have I heard a chaplain 
or minister give a thought of the women workers, 
by whose faithful care many of these brave soldiers 
were nursed back to life, and restored to their 
anxious families and to the country. 

Miss Jones, of Philadelphia, was one of these 
rare, forgotten workers. Accomplished, refined, 
though delicate, she left her luxurious home with 
its order and comforts, to give her time, strength 
and means to the principles of national liberty, in- 
bred into the life of every citizen of Philadelphia 
by the frequent sight of the old cradle of the 
American flag, the little home of Betsey Ross, 
where, under the direction of General Washington, 
Lafayette and others — she sewed into the bunt- 
ing the thirteen stars and stripes of our national 
emblem. A million subscribers, at ten cents each, 
have enabled the Association to make it a national 
or State reservation in the densest business section 
of the city, where it has become a national Mecca 
to thousands yearly visiting the City of Brotherly 
Love. 



194 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Miss Jones, on arriving at City Point Hospital, 
at once took up the rough camp life in an army 
tent with earth floor, — often damp and wet, — a 
little cot, an apology for a table, barrel chairs, the 
usual chimney built roughly of logs and mud with 
barrel top, the plain and sometimes distasteful food, 
and the atmosphere of the sick wards. Here, how- 
ever, she worked for many weeks in that enthusi- 
astic ardor which inspired her kindly heart, feeling 
that she was giving help, comfort, and perhaps life, 
to the sick who came under her care. 

Thoughtless of self, and with failing strength, 
she continued to work ceaselessly, till, contracting 
typhoid fever, she collapsed quite suddenly, but 
still hoped that rest in the bare lonely tent might 
restore her to her hospital work. 

I had been too much occupied with my sick Boys 
even to see Miss Jones, though much interested in 
her, having lived near her in Philadelphia some 
years before the war ; and the sad news came with 
a shock that this frail, devoted soul had sacrificed 
her life to her country and died in the field, like 
many a true soldier and patriot, far from friends 
and the home where every tender luxury was await- 
ing her. 

Doctor Painter and I volunteered to sit beside 
her slight form during the night, which was in- 
tensely cold, while a full moon shed its silvery rays 
over the phantom of midnight silence in camp, and 
glittered like rare crystals on the pure white snow 
that seemed to reach the distant horizon, whence 



A HOUSE MOVING 195 

the brilliant stars looked down in love and pity. 
Mrs. Painter and I sat on rough chairs with our 
feet on logs, while the fire logs in the crude chim- 
ney burned brightly. Mrs. Painter, who had been 
among the first women to reach the front, mean- 
while told me many a tale of her strange experi- 
ences when system had not reached the improvised 
temporary hospital tents, where many suffered for 
help and nourishment then unattainable. So the 
night passed, while the moaning wind sang " Rest, 
sweet soul ", often slightly swaying the white sheet 
that covered the pallid body. More than once we 
started quickly to the seeming motion of life, 
hoping it might be real, but the pure spirit had 
passed on, while the frail body rested with a pleas- 
ant smile, calmly, as if tended by the friends of 
home and the formalities of a last funeral service 
for the dead. 

Her brother, Horatio, came for the body, and at 
last it was laid away among her ancestors in the 
family lot near Philadelphia. 

Recognition of her services has been given in 
Philadelphia by the naming of one of the G. A. R. 
Posts " the Hetty Jones Post ". 

The only other post that I have ever heard of 
named after a woman is the Betsey Ross Post, also 
of Philadelphia. 

From Harper's Weekly 

Saturday April 30th, 1864 

(By Private Miles O'Reilly) 

Gen. Chas. Halpin. 



196 REMINISCENCES QF AN ARMY NURSE 

Three years ago to-day 

We raised our hands to heaven, 
And on the rolls of muster 

Our names were thirty-seven; 
There were just a thousand bayonets, 

And the swords were thirty-seven. 
As we took the oath of service 

With our right hands raised to heaven. 
Oh, 'twas a gallant day. 

In memory still adored, 
That day of our sun-bright nuptials 

With the musket and the sword! 
Shrill rang the fifes, the bugles blared, 

And beneath a cloudless heaven 
Twinkled a thousand bayonets, 

And the swords were thirty-seven. 
Of the thousand stalwart bayonets 

Two hundred march to-day; 
Hundreds lie in Virginia swamps, 

And hundreds in Maryland clay; 
And other hundreds, less happy, drag 

Their shattered limbs around. 
And envy the deep, long, blessed sleep 

Of the battle-field's holy ground. 
For the swords — one night, a week ago. 

The remnant, just eleven. 
Gathered around a banqueting board 

With seats for thirty-seven; 
There were two limped in on crutches. 

And two had each but a hand 
To pour the wine and raise the cup 

As we toasted " Our flag and land ! " 
And the room seemed filled with whispers 

As we looked at the vacant seats, 
And, with choking throats, we pushed aside 

The rich but untasted meats; 
Then in silence we brimmed our glasses. 

As we rose up — just eleven. 
And bowed as we drank to the loved and the dead 

Who had made us thirty-seven ! 



CONFEDERATE PRISONERS PARADE 197 



CHAPTER XXII 

THE LAST PARADE OF CONFEDERATE 
PRISONERS 

" I am quite confident that Love was the only rope 
thrown out to us by Heaven when we fell overboard 
into life." — Sidney Lanier/^' 

GENERAL GRANT had ordered a grand at- 
tack all along the lines from Appomattox to 
Hatches Run. This was the fateful move 
that crushed the Confederate Army, and opened the 
way to Petersburg and Richmond on April 3d. 

The paroled and surrendered Confederate prison- 
ers were at once marched forward from Petersburg 
on the road beside the hospital. It was a strange, 
sad sight, this long line of Confederate prisoners, 
3,000 strong, officers and men without arms, — 
some by habit reaching for the forfeited sword, 
belt, or gun, — worn, tired, begrimed figures of 



"^ " Sidney Lanier, later musician, poet, writer, on the 
secession of Georgia at once enlisted in the Confederate 
infantry and served through the war except while a 
prisoner at Point Lookout. He afterwards rejoiced in 
the overthrow of slavery; and knew that it was belief 
in the soundness and greatness of the American Union, 
among the millions of the North and the great North 
West that really conquered the South. He said " As 
soon as Lee invaded the North and arrayed the senti- 
ment against us our swift destruction followed ". — 
Edward Mims, 



198 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

despair. They were clothed in every degree of 
shabbiness, from the dulled tinsel of the uniformed 
officers, to the worn, faded, ragged grey that they 
had so confidently donned at the beginning of the 
war. They were on their way to City Point under 
guard, many to be forwarded to some Northern 
camp, where at least their starving bodies would be 
fed and made comfortable. 

There was no sound of exultation over the con- 
quered enemy among the Northern men and 
women standing quietly near to see them pass. 
Some even saluted the defeated Confederate 
officers. None showed the slightest disrespect to 
those unfortunates who had not only lost, in a 
futile war against their own nation, the " Flower 
of their Chivalry ", but their broad acres were de- 
vastated and had become battle fields of frightful 
carnage and struggle, and their homes were also 
wrecked, leaving many without shelter, and thus 
depriving hundreds of any present means of sup- 
port. As they marched slowly by, in painful silent 
dejection, did they realize the folly of an ill-advised 
rebellion, to which they had sacrificed lives, homes 
and sustenance to an illogical, unethical romantic 
ideal? 

Crowds of barefoot, ragged negroes, nearly nude, 
who had been shut up for years in Petersburg, now 
crowded by hundreds along the road. One ex- 
cited old woman, her head covered with a faded 
bandana, exclaimed : " Lor, dere goes ole Mars, I 
knows him shore. Can't tech me now. I'se a free 



CONFEDERATE PRISONERS PARADE 199 

nigger." Another shouted to us, '' I knows you 
alls Yankee ladies, de Lord bress you." 

It seemed like a funeral procession, without fife 
and drum, as it wound slowly past the hospital to 
City Point United States Headquarters, there to 
take their parole. 

About this time, at City Point, I saw General 
Custer, who lost his life soon after in the Indian 
raids. He was a small, spare, nervous man, wear- 
ing a scarlet-lined cape thrown over his shoulder, 
and his long light hair floated back, making ^ 
striking picture of a cavalryman as his spirited 
horse dashed from one headq,uarters to another. 



200 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER XXIII 
OUR FIRST SIGHT OF PETERSBURG 

THE advance on Petersburg occurred on 
April 2d, 1865. It was about 3.30 A. M. 
when our troops entered the city, and all 
were anxious to see the city so long besieged and 
coveted. 

Two days later, on the 4th, a party of about 
twenty-five officers and ladies of the hospital, some 
well mounted, some in ambulances, started in high 
exultation for the conquered city. I was happy in 
being mounted on a beautiful white horse, with a 
crimson saddle cloth, loaned from United States 
Headquarters. I wore a dark blue habit with in- 
fantry buttons, a fatigue cap with chin strap, riding 
gloves, and carried a small whip. The horse acted 
as if trained for a circus, full of antics as a pet dog. 
In defiance of rein and whip he walked on every 
stray log, into ditches, or puddles of water in the 
road, first raising his haunches to feel if I were firm 
in the saddle, and travelled with a '' lope " as easy 
as a rocking chair, so that after twenty-five miles I 
was not in the least tired. 

We rode over the fields of the last skirmish, torn 
ground, destroyed entrenchments, the " Cheveaux 
de frieze ", broken and scattered among clothing, 
canteens and the general debris of a battle-field. 
At the outskirts of the city we saw great " gopher 



FIRST SIGHT OF PETERSBURG 201 

holes " dug in the sides of hills, where the inhabit- 
ants crowded daily to escape the shells that were 
constantly falling into the doomed city. In these 
holes they were safe until nightfall, when firing 
usually ceased and the weary women and children 




GENERAL O. B. WILCOX 

returned to their homes to sleep until another day. 
Shots passed through many houses but it was sur- 
prising that so little had been destroyed. 

Having previously met General O. B. Wilcox, 
who was then in command of the city, we rode to 
his headquarters, where I introduced our party. 



202 REMINISCENCES O^ AN ARMY NURSE 

He received us courteously, giving us a mounted 
escort, that no trouble might ensue while we made 
a tour of the almost deserted city. The windows 
were all closed, as for some national mourning. 
There was only one foolish demonstration, by some 
young women on a piazza, who made grimaces at 
our handsome officers, and gyrated their fingers at 
them in a most remarkable manner. I was sorry 
and indignant for this petty spite, but our brave 
men merely smiled without comment. 

The houses were generally detached, small and 
shabby, showing little to interest beside occasional 
marks made by stray shot. While riding through 
the town we saw an old gentleman weeding his 
garden, and I made the excuse of asking for a glass 
of water, which was politely given. I said to him, 
" You appear to be taking things very quietly." 

In his strong Southern accent, he replied : '' Oh 
yes ; you uns have us beaten, and we might as well 
make the best of it and go to work." 

During this memorable day in Petersburg we had 
visited our old friend Bob Eden, who became editor 
of the Petersburg Progress, a Confederate paper, 
immediately after the occupation of the city; and 
he, like his comrades, was wild with joy at the turn 
of things, political and national. 

The following from " Grant's " Petersburg 
Progress appeared the day after our visit. The 
paper is still in my possession, but it has nearly 
fallen in pieces. There was no supply of printer's 
blank paper, and the Confederates had been obliged 



FIRST SIGHT OF PETERSBURG 203 

to use one side of wall paper, or anything else that 
would hold print. 

" Grant's Petersburg Progress, 
Petersburg, Va., 1865, April 4th. 
Vol. 1 No. 2 

Proprietors: Major R. C. Eden, Captain C. H. Mc- 
Creary. 

" Eternal vigilance is the price of peace, (and ten 
cents for our paper.) " 

I copy from one column the following significant 
advertisements : 

"NOTICE" 

" All persons destitute of provision will apply as fol- 
lows : In West Ward, to W. L. Lancaster, East Ward, 
to W. L. Lancaster, Central Ward, to W. L. Lancaster, 
South Ward, to W. L. Lancaster." 

Surely there was little animosity when our troops 
cheerfully offered food and sustenance to the desti- 
tute, starving whites, as well as to the helpless 
negroes. 

"AUCTION SALES" 

" To be sold cheap (if not badly sold already) all 
that singularly ineligible worthless property, known as 
the Southern Confederacy; for particulars apply to 
Jefferson Davis. N. B. Liberal terms to agents of 
Maximilian, Louis Napoleon or Victoria." 

In this same crude issue appears the following, 
probably the last notice of a sale of slaves that ever 
disgraced our nominally free country; now happily 
the home of freedom in very truth, though so long 



204 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

permitting, in the face of our boasted freedom, the 
sale of human beings. 

" I will sell to the highest bidder, for cash, at Noto- 
way Court House, on Thursday, the sixth day of April, 
next Court day, ten negroes belonging to the estate cf 
Uriah Lipscomb, deceased. P. A. Lipscomb, 

Com. Co. Court Notoway." 

" Editorial Comment — The above sale is post- 
poned indefinitely; a different disposition of the prop- 
erty having been made by Mr. A. Lincoln, of the White 
House, Washington, D. C." 

" Lady visitors : Our sanctum was yesterday graced 
by several ladies, and all of them loyal and of strong 
Union principles. The party composed of Miss H. P. 
(high private) Smith, Agent from New York State, 
Mrs. Colonel Logan, Mrs. Sample, Delaware Agent, 
and Mrs. Huron, Indiana Agent. Their presence was 
very acceptable, and did much to soothe and comfort 
us in our labor. They were under escort of Messers. 
Clark, Peek and Brown, of the Sanitary Commission." 

" THE TWO MINNIES " 

By A Rebel Soldier 
(Suggested by a letter from Minnie, saying that she 
prayed daily that the " Minnie " balls might spare me.) 

" There is a Minnie that I love, 
And a " Minnie " that I fear, 
But the former is now absent, 
And the latter oft too near. 
But the Minnie prays for me each day 
That to " Minnie " I'll not fall a prey. 

" The voice of one is soft and sweet 
The other harsh and shrill — 
One only speaks to bless mankind 
The other but to kill. 

And while Minnie prays for me each day 
Yankee " Minnies " seek me for a prey. 



FIRST SIGHT OF PETERSBURG 205 

" And when this sad war is over, 
Our independence won, 
I'll bid adieu to Yankee " Minn " 
And seek the other one. 
And together render thanks each day 
That to Yankee " Minns " I never fell a prey." 

To see the victorious veterans of the Army re- 
turning and marching through Petersburg was a 
never-to-be-forgotten sight. As we sat, mounted, 
at the corner of a street, they marched by with easy 
swinging tramp, by hundreds and thousands, dust- 
begrimed, in faded threadbare blue uniforms that 
they had worn through many a bloody battle, and 
in which they had slept many nights, often in 
swamps, and mud on the battle-fields. The shabby 
knapsacks, battered canteens, ragged blankets, 
their well-polished old guns, the only fresh clean 
emblem in sight ; and these for the most part were 
shouldered as if for a holiday, which in very truth 
it was, probably the happiest they ever enjoyed. 
Discipline of the tired host was quite forgotten, 
while the worn, faded, torn flags floated out 
proudly. 

The Eighth Wisconsin Infantry had some time 
before sent home their mascot " Old Abe ", the hero 
of twenty battles and many skirmishes. This eagle 
was taken from its nest by an Indian and presented 
to Company C, where it became the pet of the regi- 
ment. During attacks he was carried at the front 
on a standard, near the flag, — sometimes held by 
a long cord or chain, — he would rise up flapping 
his great wings, and screeching defiance at the 



206 REMINISCENCES pF AN ARMY NURSE 

enemy loudly enough to be heard along the line. 
His reputation made thousands of dollars at fairs 
and elsewhere. His portrait was painted, and 
hangs in the Old South Church, Boston. The 
State pensioned Old Abe and supported an attend- 
ant to care for him. He died at last of old age, and 
his skin is stuffed and safely preserved in the state 
archives at Madison, Wisconsin. 

As these men tramped to the music of the shrill 
fife and drum, that knew no rest that day, they 
sometimes joined in a great chorus, meanwhile 
cheering themselves hoarse, to the tunes of 
" Johnny Came Marching Home ", " Yankee Doo- 
dle ", and many an army song. 

When some former patients recognized us, sur- 
geons and nurses who had cared for them, they 
broke all bounds, and, with uncovered heads, 
dipped their tattered flags and fairly roared their 
thanks in grateful cheers, while we waved our caps 
and handkerchiefs in return and also cheered. The 
magnetism of a home-going victorious army spread 
like a prairie fire, not only from regiment to regi- 
ment, but extended to every individual in their 
presence, while a roar as if of ocean waves spread 
over the sea of happy men and women. 

This was a day of great rejoicing and enthusiasm 
among soldiers and Northerners, never to be for- 
gotten. Taking leave of our polite escort, and 
thanking General Wilcox for his kindness, the 
mounted party took a spirited gallop back to hos- 
pital camp. 



FIRST SIGHT OF PETERSBURG 207 

Strict hospital discipline was relaxed and the men 
were singing " Home, Sweet Home ", " Yankee 
Doodle ", '' John Brown's Body ", " Marching 
Through Georgia ", and many other patriotic 
songs, enjoying them equally, until taps ordered 
'' Lights out ", when the whole camp soon fell into 
peaceful dreams of home. 

TAPS 

" Night draws her sable mantle on 

And pins it with a star." 
Darkness has come, and rest is won 
By those who thro' the dusty way, 
Have marched their long and weary day. 
And now the bugler from his tent 

Across the prairies far, 

Comes forth to blow the call. 
By him 'tis sent. The regiment 
Will hear and know the hour has come 
For sleep, until the rising sun 

Shall summon one and all. 
Lights out ! Lights out ! The bugle's clear 

Notes falling on the air, 
Sound to the ear now far, now near; 
Now almost ceasing, now enhanced 
By echoes o'er that wide expanse 

Of prairies bleak and bare. 
Lights out! Lights out! From every lamp 

The light is seen to die. 
With measured tramp around the camp 
The sentries guard against their foes; 
The rest are wrapped in sweet repose 

Beneath the starry sky. 
" Taps " falls far sweeter on the air 

Than any other sound. 
Like opiate rare, it soothes all care — 
To weary men a blessing seems — 
And pleasant are the soldier's dreams 



208 REMINISCENCES .OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Tho' stretched upon the ground. 
Ah, Taps, thy mournful signal call 

Floats o'er a new-made grave, 
Thy soft notes fall where one from all 
Life's weary march forever rests — 
Asleep. Where wild birds build their nests. 

Unmindful of the brave. 

John P. Force. 

There were yet many patients, so that our work 
at the hospital went on as before, while waiting for 
further orders; while all soon became conscious of 
a general relaxation of the imperative discipline 
that had made our hospital a model of general 
courtesy, neatness, and order. 



I 



A VISIT TO RICHMOND 209 



CHAPTER XXIV 

PREPARING FOR A VISIT TO RICHMOND, THE 
CAPITAL OF THE LOST CONFEDERACY 

" In giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom 
to the free." — Abraham Lincoln. 

AFEV^ days after the evacuation and capture 
of Richmond, a small party led by Mr. J. 
Yates Peek, of Brooklyn, still superintendent 
of the Sanitary Commission at City Point, arranged 
to make an early start on the morning of April i ith, 
to see the smoking city. Everything must be ar- 
ranged over night, and I planned so as to jump 
quickly into my clothing, placing my only pair of 
good boots on a near-by chair, to lose no time. But 
in the morning, almost at the last moment, the 
boots were missing. When all had joined in the 
search, to no effect, the mystery increased. 

We had a boy orderly, named Jack, who was 
more officious than useful, and often much in the 
way, and he volunteered in the search. Returning 
to my little room after a moment's absence, to my 
astonishment I beheld the boy on the floor with his 
head in my trunk, which he had had the temerity 
to unlock. He was rummaging and disarranging 
everything as if with a pudding stick. I exclaimed : 
"Jack, what are you doing? " in no pleasant tone 
of voice. 

*' I thought the shoes might be in the trunk ", he 



210 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

quite coolly replied, " but I've been through every 
darned thing in it and they ain't there." 

Words were, at that hurried moment, quite in- 
adequate. An explanation of the loss of the shoes 
came later. We had removed a small stove and 
left the pipe hole open on the side between two 
tents, and during the night some ambitious contra- 
band probably had squeezed into the small space 
between the tents, and with a long stick had 
" gobbled " my only pair of decent shoes. 

What could I do? I must go somewhere, as the 
party were not willing to go without me. Fortu- 
nately, Miss Dupee, assistant in the Maine State 
Agency, had a pair which fitted quite well and she 
very kindly loaned them to me. One of the pleas- 
ant associations of agency life in camp was the 
camaraderie that made all things in common, just 
as the soldier shared his last ration or his last dollar 
with another comrade in the field. 

Owing to this delay, we were barely able to catch 
the boat as it was pushing off at City Point Dock. 
A pleasant sail on the James River brought us to 
the dock of the Seven-Hilled City, directly into the 
burned and still smoking district. 

The fleeing citizens in their short-sighted frenzy, 
had determined to destroy the whole city. But 
thanks to the efforts of the Federal soldiers, chiefly 
colored, the greater part of the city was saved for 
them, while the factories and warehouses continued 
to smoke and burn for many weeks. 

It was this same obstructed wharf and destroyed 



A VISIT TO RICHMOND 211 

dock over which the President climbed, holding 
little Tad by the hand. They passed through the 
burned district, against the protest of a small es- 
cort, while jostled by a rough crowd. 

Blessed by the grateful negroes crowding around 
the great Emancipator, some kneeling and kissing 
the hem of his coat, he strode fearlessly on among 
enemies and friends. 

A significant fact to be forever cherished by the 
freed race is that General Weitzel, with the 25th 
Corps d' Afric, took possession of the conquered 
city; and further that a colored soldier carried the 
President's United States flag before him into the 
heart of Richmond, where it was raised over the 
Capitol, and Richmond was once more and forever 
in the Union. 

The Capitol, a modest building with white col- 
umns and dome, was uninjured. There were many 
comfortable-looking detached houses, with yards or 
gardens pleasant to see after the bare tent life at 
City Point Hospital. 

We dined at Spotswood Hotel, still managed by 
a Confederate host, where we greatly enjoyed fresh 
peas and corn. We were rather disappointed by 
the plainness of the gray mastic front of the three- 
storied double medium house of Jefferson Davis, 
both inside and out, with only a door yard in front, 
where I gathered some leaves which are still in my 
possession. 

We saw the entrance to the tunnel that was dug 
by starving, desperate Yankee prisoners, almost in 



212 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

full view of the guards, quite near Libby prison, and 
by which many had escaped to freedom, thus bring- 
ing more deprivation and abuse upon the despairing 
prisoners left behind. 

All was now changed in the city. The inhabit- 
ants finding they were not pursued or in any way 
molested, were gradually returning to their homes 




LIBBY PRISON 



and buildings that they had not succeeded in des- 
troying. 

Libby Prison remained; a weather-stained brick 
tobacco storehouse, the former scene of so much 
suffering and indignity. But the tables were now 
turned. The brutal turnkey. Captain Richard 
Turner, by name, I think, was now himself a 
prisoner. He was a stocky, brutal-looking fellow. 
All people were allowed to pass and look through a 



A VISIT TO RICHMOND 



213 



small open window at the miserable wretch, while 
he defiantly mounted a stool in the middle of the 
room to show himself more conspicuously. That 
morning a former prisoner had cajoled him into 




GENERAL ULYSSES GRANT 



coming close to the small window, where the man 
struck through and felled him to the ground as he 
said : " Take that for the pail of filth you threw over 
me while I was a helpless prisoner ". 

It was a fine commentary upon the discipline and 



214 REMINISCENCES Of AN ARMY NURSE 

forbearance of many liberated victims, that they 
did not kill or shoot this monster for his atrocities, 
instead of merely gazing and glaring at him silently 
through the small opening. 




GENERAL LEE 



PEACE 

When the formal announcement of the final sur- 
render of General Lee to General Grant, at Appo- 
mattox, on the gth of April, 1865, was confirmed in 
the camp, all knew that at last the " cruel war " 
was over. There was great rejoicing in the hos- 
pital, and all began to prepare to go North, or home 



A VISIT TO RICHMOND 215 

again, after so many weary years of struggle. 
Some wept for joy as they wrote to the weary wait- 
ing watchers at home ; some were to carry to their 
friends and neighbors the last words and deeds of 
the many who slept beneath the soil of Virginia, or 
further south, while their comrades " went march- 
ing on ". The workers of the Agencies and the 
Commissions had so long labored in the same spirit 
that we were much like a large united family; and 
until we departed one by one for our homes, we did 
not realize how close was the bond of sympathy and 
affection, that could never be forgotten. 



216 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

CHAPTER XXV 
RECOLLECTIONS OF LINCOLN 

" We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be 
enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must 
not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords 
of memory stretching from every battlefield and patriot 
grave to every living heart and hearthstone, all over 
this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, 
when again touched, as surely they will be by the 
better angels of our nature." — Abraham Lincoln. 

DURING the last year of the war I was still 
working for the " Boys " at City Point 
Depot Field Hospital, Virginia, half a mile 
from the headquarters of the United States Armies 
in the field, at the junction of the Appomattox and 
James Rivers, when the day of the second inaug- 
ural drew near. This caused a welcome ripple of 
excitement to spread over the daily monotony of 
discipline in hospital camp life. The fearless Presi- 
dent was to stand once more before the people to 
take the oath to uphold the institutions and princi- 
ples of his country, despite the state policy as well 
as humanity that had compelled the passing of the 
Emancipation Act, that had cut the last thread of 
hope for the return of *' the good old days " of the 
South. 

When Abraham Lincoln, with superhuman cour- 
age, made that moral stroke of the pen that gave 
freedom to millions of slaves, then was born at last 
a free country, not only in name, but in the glorious 




THE PERRY PICTURES. 125. 
BOSTON EDITION. 



COPYRIGHT, 1801, BY M. P. RICE. 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 



RECOLLECTIONS OF LINCOLN 217 

fact that had blotted out from our country's es- 
cutcheon the shame of human slavery that had so 
long branded our vaunted freedom as a disgrace. 
The people, the great middle class, the saviours of 
freedom who in great crises rise to a national 
emergency like a towering Gibraltar, had risen to 
uphold the weary hands of him who loved his 
country more than life, though so often it had 
seemed as if the waves of care and sorrow would 
engulf his tired soul. 

Many officers, and others able to secure leave of 
absence or passes, hastened to witness this greatest 
of our national events. With other State Agency 
ladies, I was anxious to break the long strain of 
caring for sick and wounded patients amid scenes 
of the horrors of war and bloodshed. Nine thou- 
sand men, at different times, filled this well-organ- 
ized camp. Mangled bodies were brought directly 
in from the battle-fields where they had fallen, by 
means of temporary rails, on rough bare sand cars, 
on which they were piled like so many logs, one 
upon another, so great was the need of haste to get 
them to the hospital. All of these were covered 
with dirt, powder, blood, torn uniforms, and seemed 
an almost indistinguishable mass; while many a 
half-severed limb dangled from a shattered human 
trunk. 

I was fortunate in being able to go to Washing- 
ton quite independently, without fear of detention, 
having a pass from General Grant that ordered all 
guards, pickets, steamboats and government roads 



218 REMINISCENCES QF AN ARMY NURSE 

to pass " Miss Ada W. Smith ", and which prac- 
tically would have allowed me to travel free with- 
out question over the entire Northern States, as all 
roads were then under government control. Thus 
was I enabled to accept the invitation of Dr. Hettie 
K. Painter, Pennsylvania State Agent, and her hus- 
band, to join their party going to Washington. On 
arriving in that city we went to a small hotel, where 
we met some Western friends, and found there also 
a former patient from City Point, Lieutenant Gos- 
per, who had lost a leg in the skirmish before Pet- 
ersburg, and was now convalescent. He mani- 
fested the usual cheerfulness of wounded men, 
while waiting to have an artificial limb adjusted, , — 
a free gift from the government. 

We had secured tickets and good places to see 
the official ceremony; but the surging mass of hu- 
manity crowded us quite beyond hearing. On this 
eventful morning a raw, threatening gale blew dust 
and loose debris into our eyes and faces, nearly 
blinding us. 

" And men looked up with mad disquietude upon 
the dull sky ", as we awaited the signal of the 
President's coming. At last the tall, gaunt form 
of Mr. Lincoln came forward on to the portico of 
the Capitol, surrounded by officials and attendants. 
Chief Justice Chase opened the great Bible, and 
President Lincoln stepped forward, placing his hand 
upon the book to take, for the second time, his oath 
of office. At this moment, the leaden sky, that had 
not lifted during the day, suddenly opened a small 



RECOLLECTIONS OF LINCOLN 219 

rift, while a strong bright ray of sunshine shot 
through and rested upon the noble head of the 
soon-to-be-glorified martyr. A silence of awe 
seemed for a moment to overspread the startled 
multitude, and then the darkening gloom closed 
down again as with an ominous foreboding. But 
not a word of that memorable address could we 
hear above the soughing, cold, gusty wind. 

While planning for the reception, our young lieu- 
tenant, sensitive and refined, positively declined to 
accompany us, repeating only : '' It is no place for a 
cripple ". 

After we had exhausted all other arguments, a 
happy thought came to me : " Well, Lieutenant, if 
you will not go with us I suppose I shall have to 
stay away also; each of the other ladies has an 
escort, and, as every lady must be attended, I can 
not go alone." 

" Would you go to a reception with a cripple on 
a crutch? " he replied, sadly. 

My answer came quickly and sincerely : " I would 
be proud of such an escort ! " 

At last he consented, rather reluctantly, to ac- 
company us. At the appointed hour we started for 
the evening reception. Soon, however, we found 
ourselves in a frightful crush of people, crowding up 
the White House steps, and we quickly closed 
around the lieutenant, fearing he might get under 
foot. Our party was carried up bodily to the land- 
ing, where I found that my arm was quite badly 
bruised by the crutch. 



220 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

After getting breath and composing ourselves, we 
fell into the long procession of couples approaching 
the President, where the ushers went through the 
form of taking our names and introducing us. In 
passing we saw a group of cabinet officers and a 
number of ladies with Mrs. Lincoln, who was 
gowned in white satin with a deep black thread lace 
flounce over an expansive skirt, in the style of that 
day ; and she wore her favorite head dress, a wreath 
of natural pink roses entirely around her plainly 
dressed hair. 

The President's band played stirring airs in an 
adjoining room, while crowds of every grade passed 
on, some in dashing uniforms, some in evidently 
fresh " store clothes ", others in gorgeous costumes, 
and the good women from the country in sensible 
black, — with ill-fitting gloves. It was a motley 
democratic crowd, such as could be seen in no royal 
country, and of which we are justly proud. Fol- 
lowing the almost endless procession we saw the 
unmistakable form of Mr. Lincoln, his long arm and 
white-gloved hand reaching out to shake hands, and 
bowing in a mechanical manner, plainly showing 
that he wished this demand of the people was well 
over. 

Suddenly straightening up his tall form, while 
continuing the handshaking, he looked eagerly 
down the line and, to my surprise, as the lieutenant 
and I approached, he stepped out before us and, 
grasping the hand of the crippled soldier, he said in 
an unforgettable tone of deep sympathy : " God 



RECOLLECTIONS OF LINCOLN 221 

bless you, my boy ! God bless you ! " Owing to 
the lieutenant's crutch I was obliged to take his left 
arm which brought me on the outside away from 
the President. I attempted to pass with a bow, but 
he stood in my way, still holding out his large hand, 
until I released mine and gave it to him, receiving 
a warm, sympathetic grasp. Then I saw that won- 
derful lighting of his kindly beneficent grey eyes, 
that for a moment often beautified as with a halo 
that otherwise plain, sad face. As we moved on, 
the lieutenant exclaimed in happy exultation, '' Oh ! 
I'd lose another leg for a man like that ! " 

Such was the magnetic tone and touch of that 
rare spirit that carried hope and trust to the hope- 
less sorrowing, the great heart that could with truth 
and sincerity enfold not only his own country, but 
the whole human brotherhood of the world, and 
caused him to reply in effect to those who wished 
him to subscribe to some special creed : " When I 
can find a church broad enough to take in the whole 
human race, then I will join it ". 

Once again I saw President Lincoln, after the in- 
augural, early in April — that fateful month in 
which occurred the last battle of the rebellion, the 
surrender of heroic Lee, the act of the magnani- 
mous Grant, the imprisonment of the Confederate 
leader, the conference of those great men of war 
and state. 

When Abraham Lincoln had come, in his own 
boat the River Queen, to meet Grant and Sherman 
at City Point, he was so secure in the conclusion of 



222 REMINISCENCES. OF AN ARMY NURSE 

peace at last, that he had brought Mrs. Lincoln and 
" little Tad " to share in the general rejoicing. 

I did not see Mrs. Lincoln at that time, and I had 
also missed seeing her in 1863, when I had taken 
to the famous Soldier's Rest and Hospital in Phila- 
delphia one soldier blinded by a bullet that passed 
through his head, cutting both optic nerves, one 
who had lost both legs, and another who had lost 
both arms. 

During the war, when the troops were en route to 
the front and halted in Philadelphia, the great Lib- 
erty Bell announced their coming, and hundreds of 
women and many men hastened with bountiful sup- 
plies to this great Rest, where they set up rough 
wooden tables. Here many passing regiments had 
a generous meal, and almost lifted the roof with 
their grateful shouts, exceeded only by those of the 
outside crowd as they marched away to the jolly 
tune of the fife and drum. 

At City Point the three Titans of war and state 
— Lincoln, Grant and Sherman — met with navy 
and state officers to conclude the terms of surren- 
der and peace. There was no desire to confirm the 
battle cry, " Hang Jeff Davis ", as in most countries 
would have been inevitable, and even sympathy and 
mercy inspired the closing acts of this national 
tragedy that had cost the lives of thousands of 
brave Southerners, and of those of the invincible 
North. 

During this mighty conclave at City Point, Abra- 
ham Lincoln was occasionally seen riding to the 



RECOLLECTIONS OF LINCOLN 223 

front and about camp and hospital, and to visit the 
tents, in his sombre black suit and high hat tower- 
ing above many striking uniforms about him. It 
was a singular fact that while many ministers had 
come down to " overlook the field " dressed in the 
same fashion, except that there was always some- 
how a ministerial dip of the front corners of their 
long frock coats that at once betrayed their profes- 
sion, they were often ridiculed and guyed by the 
rough soldiers. Yet the thought of ridicule was 
never suggested for this unique man who seemed to 
dignify and honor everything he touched, even 
when, in the same style, he rode his horse in an un- 
gainly manner. He could have ridden bareback 
without loss of dignity. 

On one of these occasions Mr. Lincoln had ridden 
up from the Point to visit our hospital, and was, as 
usual, accompanied by crowds of devoted friends as 
he walked through the divisions and avenues of the 
different camps. There were gathered the sick and 
wounded of the Ninth, Sixth, Fifth, Second Corps, 
and the Corps d' Afric, who were frequently visited 
by their regimental surgeons and officers of regi- 
ments that were encamped before Petersburg. 

I shall always regret not speaking to Mr. Lincoln 
at that time. It would have been very easy to do, 
but I could not see the coming catastrophe, and I 
hesitated to push forward into the surrounding 
crowd to be presented. As he passed from tent to 
tent, with many a cheerful word to the suffering 
men, a young man connected with the Sanitary 



224 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Commission, now Doctor Jerome Walker, a suc- 
cessful physician of Brooklyn, said, pointing to 
some tents near-by, " Mr. President, you do not 
want to go in there ! " 

" Why not, my boy? " he asked. 
" Why, sir, they are sick rebel prisoners." 
With a hasty movement he said, " That is just 
where I do want to go ", and he strode within the 
tent, shaking hands and speaking such words of 
comfort as only his magnanimous spirit could 
prompt, to the grateful surprise and pleasure of the 
Confederate patients. 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF 
PRESIDENT LINCOLN 

On the morning of April 15th, 1865, as the sun 
rose over our quiet hospital camp, I was startled by 
the sound of galloping hoofs, that stopped suddenly 
before our tent. Scratching on the canvas indi- 
cated the usual sign for admission. Hastily unty- 
ing the tent flaps, I found Major William Baker, of 
the Tenth Colored Troops, still mounted, and be- 
traying much agitation and haste, when he said : " I 
have just ridden up to tell you, the first person in 
the hospital, the sad news of the reported death of 
the President. All officers were assembled at 2 
A. M. to a conference, when the reported assassi- 
nation by Wilkes Booth was read, but not yet 
officially confirmed ". With a sad expression and 
a salute he put spurs to his horse and dashed back 
to City Point. 

Telegrams were slow in those days, so it was not 



RECOLLECTIONS OF LINCOLN 



225 



till the afternoon that the terrible, cruel tragedy 
was announced at the hospital camp. The shock 
was paralyzing, and a sombre silence spread over 
the wards containing the men who had learned to 
love this great soul. Men and women as well as 




MAJOR WILLIAM BAKER 



soldiers wept together as for a loved, indulgent 
father, who had borne his crushing responsibilities 
without a murmur or a cry for help. A few cop- 
perhead patients dared to approve of the murderous 
act, but they were soon beaten into silence with the 
crutches of the indignant crippled convalescents. 



226 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

With a vague desire to express in some way their 
grief, men came and begged for a bit of black to 
fasten over their tents, and if any were so luckless 
as to have a black suit they saw it speedily reduced 
to shreds and flying from the entrances of the wards 




J. WILKES BOOTH 

or tents. But other men still begged so earnestly 
for some black emblem, that I at last gave to them 
a full train black skirt that I could illy spare. This 
soon became floating ribbons over many a tent, to 
the great satisfaction of the loyal boys, having so 
little by which they could express their sorrow. In 



RECOLLECTIONS OF LINCOLN 227 

a few days some of us were so fortunate as to re- 
ceive from home or from Washington, mourning 
badges of suitable designs, which we wore as a mark 
of respect to our dead President. 

In making the rounds among my scattered pa- 
tients I stopped to speak to Major Prentiss, of a 
New York regiment, who had captured his way- 
ward young brother — a Captain in the Sixth 
Maryland Confederate Infantry — now lying in 
the same ward quite near, having lost a leg. The 
Captain, a handsome, cheerful youth, whose happy 
jokes and stories kept his neighbours quite diverted 
from the tedium of convalescence, was recovering 
slowly; but the Major had been shot through the 
lung, and one could hear the air passing through the 
unhealed wound. He looked so longingly at the 
badge I was wearing, that another brother, who 
had come South to take the patients home if pos- 
sible, said : '* He would be so happy if he could have 
a badge." It was impossible to ignore the wish of 
a dying soldier, so I took off the one I was wearing 
and pinned it over his heart. He could not speak 
his thanks, but a rare smile of intense satisfaction 
spread over the sufferer's countenance. 

As in most great catastrophes, it seemed for a 
time as if the world must stand still ; but many pa- 
tients still needed care, and we were obliged to go 
on with our work till all the sick were sent home or 
to Northern hospitals, and each resumed his daily 
duty, while the spirit of sadness hovered over the 
hospital campus. 



228 REMINISCENCES QF AN ARMY NURSE 

Lincoln was not a type, 

No ancestors, no fellows, no successors. 

Ingersoll. 

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! 
O Captain ! my Captain ! our fearful trip is done, 
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought 

is won. 
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all ex- 
ulting. 
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and 
daring ; 
But O heart! heart! heart! 
O the bleeding drops of red, 

Where on the deck my Captain lies. 
Fallen cold and dead. 

O Captain ! my Captain ! rise up and hear the bells ; 
Rise up — for you the flag is flung — for you the 

bugle trills. 
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths — for you the 

shores a-crowding. 
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces 
turning ; 
Here Captain! dear father! 
This arm beneath your head! 

It is some dream that on the deck 
You've fallen cold and dead. 

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still. 
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor 

will. 
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed 

and done. 
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object 
won; 
Exult O shores, and ring O bells 
But I, with mournful tread, 

Walk the deck, my Captain lies, 
Fallen cold and dead. 

Walt Whitman. 



LETTER FROM DOCTOR BRUSON 229 



CHAPTER XXVI 

A RECENT LETTER FROM DOCTOR MARY 
BLACKMAR BRUSON 

" Jacksonville, Florida, 

April, 19 10. 

MY DEAR ADA: 
At your request I send some incidents of 
camp life as they come to mind. 

After one of the fearful onslaughts at Petersburg, 
the wounded came pouring into my tent, which was 
nearest to the firing line, so that a drummer-lad 
had named it ' The Half Way House '. One lad 
dropped from the wagon in which he was being 
transported, as they passed my tent. I ran and 
cried out to the driver. He coolly replied ' He is 
dead, what does it matter ! ' 

I knelt by the boy's side and found a remote evi- 
dence of life, but hemorrhage was so profuse it 
seemed he could not survive. I called the attention 
of surgeons, but all said ' We must go on '. So 
with my knowledge that life was not extinct, and 
that he was so young and had the force of youth, 
(moreover the hardships of the Confederates had 
toughened him), I remained on the ground at his 
side not daring to leave him, but compelled to use 
my fingers as a tampon. 

I remained with him twenty-four hours before I 
felt safe in having him carried to a ward. Cramped 



230 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

and exhausted from such a strain, in addition to 
weakness induced by loss of sleep through nights 
and days previous, I could hardly crawl into my 
tent. Being cold I heated a brick, put it in my cot 
and was soon so deeply sunk in oblivion, it seemed 
I would have remained so forever, but for my com- 
panions. Misses V. and M., who came in at mid- 
night. Soon after they retired they discovered a 
dense smoke filling the tent and were aware of 
burning wool. They called me again and again, 
but getting no reply they jumped up and pulled me 
from the burning cot and finally roused me, so that 
I calmly dressed. 

Morning found my limbs, from ankles to knees, 
one solid blister, but this I was at first too stupid 
to realize, or even the danger which I had escaped 
through my faithful friends. No one knew of the 
accident but ourselves, and I went about my work 
as usual. Nature alone was the healer. 

One day I asked a poor exhausted soldier — so 
feeble from disease and exposure that he could only 
whisper — if there was anything he wished, and 
said that if so I would try to get it for him. With 
tears and sighs he replied, *' O, Miss, if you would 
only get me some fried bacon with molasses poured 
over it, I would get well ! " It was a novel dish to 
me but was easily attained, and the man's appetite 
was so quickened by the relishable food that he 
began to recover forthwith. In later years I 
learned that very many looked upon it as a special 
delicacy. 



LETTER FROM DOCTOR BRUSON 231 

I was finally placed in charge of the Confederate 
wards, and there saw that grandest of men, Presi- 
dent Lincoln. This was after the last assault on 
Petersburg, and men horribly wounded and sick, 
from both armies, were rushed into our camp hos- 
pital at City Point. I was given especial care of 
the private Confederates, and my companion, that 
fine, grand woman. Miss Vance, took charge of the 
Confederate officers. I had only an orderly to as- 
sist me — a boy about sixteen, — and what with 
the cleaning and caring for each sick, torn body, 
our powers were strained to the utmost limit of en- 
durance. Our patients' cots were so close together 
that we could just squeeze between, and our ward 
so long that it required from three to four tents. 

General Grant was at City Point, and President 
Lincoln came down at this time, before our army 
marched into Richmond. One day both of them 
were coming slowly down my avenue. The orderly 
rushed in and cried out — ' President Lincoln's 
coming ! ' I was at the extreme end of the hospital 
tent, but, girl-like, started forward that I might see 
him. At that instant, oh, such a puny, helpless 
wail, as of sick and dying infants, issued from every 
throat : * Oh, don't leave us. Miss ! He is a beast ! 
He will kill us ! ' 

I replied : ' Oh, no ! He is a grand good man ! ' 
Again and again came forth that puny wail, ' Don't 
leave us. Miss ! ' till I finally said, ' Well, I'll not 
leave you, don't fear ! ' but by that time I had got 
to the front of the tent and the orderly had pulled 



232 REMINISCENCES OE AN ARMY NURSE 

back a flap on my request so that I peered out. 
Within about fifteen or twenty feet were both men. 
General Grant with the inevitable cigar, and Presi- 
dent Lincoln, so tall, so lank, giving evidence of 
much sorrow, looming over him. I heard General 
Grant say distinctly, ' These are the Confederate 
quarters '. President Lincoln immediately said, 
' I wish to go in here alone ! ' 

I drew myself up into the corner as close as pos- 
sible, and he bent under the open flap and came in. 
He went at once to a bedside, and reverently leaned 
over almost double so low were the cots, and 
stroked the soldier's head, and with tears streaming 
down his face he said in a sort of sweet anguish, 
" Oh, my man, why did you do it? " The boy in 
gray said, or rather stammered weakly, almost in a 
whisper, ' I went because my State went '. On 
that ground floor, so quiet was the whole ward, a 
pin could almost have been heard to fall. President 
Lincoln went from one bedside to another and 
touched each forehead gently, and with tears 
streaming asked again the question, and again 
heard the same reply. When he finally passed out 
from those boys, some grey and grizzled, but many 
of them children, there came as from one voice, 
' Oh, we didn't know he was such a good man ! 
We thought he was a beast ! ' 

At the close of hostilities, I, with many others, 
went with the army to Richmond and Washington, 
and there saw the final parade of 60,000 troops 
before the White House. I afterward returned to 



LETTER FROM DOCTOR BRUSON 233 

my college and hospital and completed my studies, 
and since then have led a strenuous life as a prac- 
tising physician in Florida. 
As ever, 

Your old Comrade, 

MARY." 



234 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER XXVII 
LAST OF CITY POINT 

IN some early chapters on the good work of the 
Sanitary Commission I wrote of the denuded 
hospital camp, belated sick soldiers, etc. After 
the departure of the Second Corps hospital officers, 
I was the only white woman in camp, and I took 
possession of their headquarters, in a rustic cottage 
of one story built by the engineer corps in pretty 
artistic style with boughs and branches cut from the 
woods near by. 

Four rooms, with central entrance, made a com- 
fortable homelike shelter where " Aunty " also 
stayed and looked after my interests. The colored 
guard detailed by General Russell marched their 
steady beat daily and nightly, while a stack of mus- 
kets stood before my little door. A circular lawn 
was often occupied by negroes anxious for a word 
with " De bressed white Yankee lady ", while their 
picanninies, rolling on the grass, made the place 
quite lively, despite the warnings of Auntie to 
" Dem black niggers dat ain't got no manners no- 
how." 

This kind-hearted old mammy always, somehow, 
managed to have a bright bandanna turban and a 
fresh white apron. She took that rare possession 
of me, known only to house servants of southern 
families. 



LAST OF CITY POINT 235 

Mrs. Russell remained in her husband's headquar- 




ters at the Point, and afforded me many pleasant 



236 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

social courtesies. General Russell invited me for a 
buggy ride to Petersburg, still under command of 
General Willcox. 

As we rode by the deserted earthworks and 
former lines in front of Petersburg, — the field of 
the last battle being still strewn with empty can- 
teens, broken muskets, etc., its earthworks up- 
turned and great chasms torn as if by an earth- 
quake, — General Russell pointed to a wrecked 
fort saying *' That was the Burnside mine, the 
' Crater ' where I lost three hundred of the bravest 
soldiers that ever went into battle. They were the 
negro hero martyrs of the Burnside mine explosion, 
where many a brave Yankee white boy also gave up 
his life ". 

General Russell's brigade included a number of 
regiments, among them the Tenth Colored Regi- 
ment, with Major William Baker, of Maine, com- 
manding. At the close of the war it was ordered 
to Texas to subdue the turbulent element and to 
protect helpless citizens. We met many destitute 
negroes still flocking to City Point. 

As soon as the front lines were abandoned, hun- 
dreds of negroes ran from Petersburg to beg our 
chaplains to marry them. Some were very young ; 
and a grey-haired old man said, " Me and Belinda 
has just stood by each other ever since we was 
a'most boy and gall; our chillun is sol' away, and 
we wants to get married like white folks, so we 
can't be separated no mo'." This seemed the ulti- 
matum of their understanding of freedom. 



LAST OF CITY POINT 237 

Conversions and immersions filled most of their 
time. These ragged homeless freedmen were gain- 
ing some glimmering of morality and religion; but 
it was a motley crowd that assembled on the shore 
of the James River, shouting and singing in their 
childish way, as they were immersed one by one, by 
their own preacher or leader, — then rising and 
shouting hallelujahs as they sprang up and down in 
the water in a frenzied manner, quite ludicrous to 
observe. 

Contrabands were spying out the desolate land, 
and looking for jobs. Surgeon Thomas Pooley 
was put in charge of this denuded hospital, and 
joined my mess in the little cottage where Auntie 
made some palatable southern dishes with our re- 
maining supplies. 

The Christian Commission and State Agencies 
had " struck their tents " and vanished almost in a 
night. Happily the Sanitary Commission, with 
their larger work and supplies, had been detained 
until the arrival of the stranded regiment, (of which 
I wrote earlier) when with a detail from General 
Russell's brigade, still in command of the deserted 
United States quarters at the Point, they were en- 
abled to reconstruct a sheltered ward into a degree 
of comfort for the exhausted men. Lack of disci- 
pline and policing soon resulted in disorder and un- 
tidiness in these formerly perfectly systematized 
camps. Quantities of unportable home-made furni- 
ture, etc., and general debris were left, to the de- 
light of the destitute contrabands. All government 



238 REMINISCENCES QF AN ARMY NURSE 

tents and property had been " turned in " and 
strictly registered. 

I well remember my farewell glance at the demol- 
ished hospital, as I rode for the last time to City 
Point to take the transport for Washington. Tent 
roofs gone, only stockade sides remained intact; 
bunks stripped and bare, much was abandoned that 
would now be useless to the army. Negroes 
swarmed like bees around these treasures, and some 
improvised roofs and shelter from abundant ma- 
terial lying about, and seemed happy in this tem- 
porary home with little thought of the future, or 
knowledge of the Freedmen Bureau then under 
General Howard's management, devising means to 
save them from starvation. 

I took leave of my faithful, tearful old Auntie, 
evidently a leader among the irresponsible bewild- 
ered contrabands, who felt perfectly happy and safe 
as long as the Yankees were there to protect them. 

At City Point, where little remained to show the 
old site of General Grant's Headquarters of the 
United States Armies, as I went aboard a govern- 
ment transport bound for New York, I showed for 
the last time my pass, that had given me protection 
and much independence, and as I look back I am 
surprised as I think of my perfect freedom from 
restraint in choosing my patients and my work in 
the hospital and State Agencies. 

As the shore receded, leaving a broken outline of 
the hospital and Point, a feeling of homesickness, 
followed by thoughts of trials, discomforts, pleas- 



LAST OF CITY POINT 239 

ures, and hopes in our active life among the sick 
and dying, — as well as the thought of the many 
recovered and sent home to their friends by army 
women, — all these passed in kaleidoscopic 
changes, as, almost alone on board the transport, I 
turned my face toward Washington, and the months 
of hospital work waiting for me there. The very 
last object that attracted my attention, as I looked 
back, was on a hill just outside the hospital grounds. 
A great leather army shoe that, on the horizon, 
looked about the size of a small row boat or canoe, 
stood out in bold relief. This set me laughing as I 
remembered the night attempt of the owner to steal 
from our little house, and the fact that in his flight, 
months before, he had lost his shoe, not daring to 
return for it lest he be captured and punished. This 
monument of his failure remained. 



240 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK STATE 
AGENCY 

ARRIVED in Washington I went directly to 
the home of my army friend, Doctor Hettie 
K. Painter, to remain until I decided upon 
my next move. The following day I reported to 
Colonel Goodrich, head of New York State Agency 
in Washington, and found that he wished me to re- 
main and assist him in the closing up of the Wash- 
ington work. This meant the visiting of the sev- 
eral hospitals scattered at long distances over the 
city and suburbs. Army Square, Douglas and 
Harewood Hospitals sheltered most of the New 
York men. I listened to their many complaints at 
being so long detained when they seemed quite able 
to travel, but were delayed for various reasons. 
The work was chiefly of a clerical form, viz. : to 
find out what difficulties detained the men, and why, 
when they were entitled to a discharge, it could not 
be obtained. Some could not get their pay, some 
had lost their descriptive lists, a few were waiting 
for their friends to take them home, while still 
other disabilities interfered. 

Owing to the great distances between hospitals 
which involved a great deal of walking, considerable 
time was lost and much fatigue followed. I there- 
fore determined to go to Medical Headquarters and 



WASHINGTON AGENCY 241 

ask for an ambulance on the strength of the pass 
that I still held from General Grant. This author- 
ity, of course, was good only during the war, but 
after some explanations the medical authorities 
courteously offered to give me the use of a medical 
headquarters ambulance, though all ambulances had 
been " called in ". 

The next morning one came for me, and I was 
driven to the New York Agency, greatly to the sur- 
prise of Colonel Goodrich, who gave me a list of 
hospital soldiers to visit. At the close of the day I 
was able to make a complete report. The time 
saved in driving was considerable, and I was able to 
accomplish much more than those who had to walk 
long distances from hospital to hospital, as other 
agents had then to do. 

The following day, on calling at the agency for 
my list, the Colonel said : '' Miss Smith, you may 
visit the near by hospitals to-day, and I will use the 
ambulance for other work ". 

'' I beg pardon. Colonel," I replied, " I am re- 
sponsible for the ambulance and no one can use it 
except by my invitation. If any agent would like 
to be dropped at any hospital I shall be very happy 
to accommodate him." 

The New York Agency ambulance had been 
called in, which was rather irritating. The Colonel 
never quite forgave me this independence, and some 
time later he remarked, regarding the failure to put 
through a troublesome case : " Perhaps Miss Smith, 
with her usual pertinacity, might accomplish it ". 



242 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

" If you can not succeed, Colonel, it is no reason 
why I should not ", I replied quickly. " Please give 
me the case." 

Putting my whole interest and energy into the 
work, I soon had the satisfaction of reporting the 
case as settled satisfactorily. 




SERGEANT BOSTON CORBETT 



During a visit to Harewood Hospital, I observed 
a very sleek-looking young man, apparently ab- 
sorbed in reading the Bible. This man I found was 
the notorious Boston Corbett who had disobeyed 
orders to capture Booth alive. He had shot him in 
the barn, then burning, and which was surrounded 



WASHINGTON AGENCY 243 

by a cordon of troops. For this disobedience Cor- 
bett had been imprisoned, but ill-health had brought 
him to the hospital. I asked him why he had dis- 
obeyed orders, and he replied that Booth was about 
to get away, and he thought it better to shoot him 
than to run the chance of having him escape. I 
then asked how he came to have such a remarkable 
name. He replied : " When I was born my father 
could not decide upon a name for me, so being a 
very religious man, he asked the Lord, and the 
Lord said ' Call him Boston ' ". I still have the 
photograph he gave me in his favorite Bible-reading 
pose. 

The piazza of Mrs. Painter's house was separated 
from that of the adjoining house only by a railing. 
Here lived a Southern family consisting of father, 
mother and a beautiful daughter. The father had 
been secretary to Jefferson Davis, and from a social 
point of view, was an elegant courteous gentleman. 
I greatly enjoyed his Southern accent and refined 
conversation. He had been obliged, through pov- 
erty, to rent a part of his house to some Northern 
politicians. 

One day I saw going up the steps, a fine-looking 
man. Colonel Forney, a prominent politician of that 
day. He asked politely of this Southern gentleman, 
then seated on the piazza, if he could see Mr. B., 
whereupon the owner of the house flew into a rage, 
as if insulted, and said : " I don't know, suh, ring the 
bell for the servant ! " As the servant opened the 
door for the Colonel to pass, the irate gentleman 



244 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

said to him, quite childishly, — but in fierce tones, 
— " Bring me my cut glass carafe of cold water in- 
stantly." 

A few days later, as we were again sitting on the 
piazza, having a pleasant chat, this same gentleman 
told me, with great indignation, of the insults they 
were now compelled to take from free niggers. He 
said that a servant maid had become so independent 
that she would not answer her mistress' bell. " I 
determined to stop such presumption and ordered 
my wife to continue ringing while I went down and 
hid myself behind the kitchen door. The bell rang 
and rang again while the wench laughed and said 
to another servant : ' She can just keep on a ringin', 
an' when I gets good and ready I'll come ! ' This 
was too much ", he said. " I went quickly forward 
into the kitchen and slapped her black face twice! 
The insolent hussy had the temerity to have me 
haled to court and bound over to keep the peace ! " 
This was the saddest effect I had yet seen of the 
influence of slave-holding. 

While boarding with Mrs. Painter I met that 
eccentric yet anomalous woman, Doctor Mary 
Walker, pleasant, refined and interesting, despite 
the semi-masculine garb she had then adopted. 
Her husband, an army surgeon, was, I think, then 
living, but died soon after the war. 

In speaking of her dress, her arguments and logic 
were unanswerable. She wore loose, long trousers 
to boot tops, a skirt below her knees, a close-fitting 



WASHINGTON AGENCY 245 

jacket and cape, much like an officer's, high collar 
and soft hat, all rather becoming for her petite style. 

" You ", she said, " with long skirts, sweep up 
and carry home with you samples of all sorts of 
filth from the streets, and besides you are not 
modest, for when you must lift your skirts there is 
always a suggestive display of hosiery, while I go 
home free from extraneous matter and never have 
to expose my ankles." This was perfect hygiene 
and logical; and many times in my army work I 
wished I could go about without drabbled skirts. 

Doctor Walker was, I think, a graduate phy- 
sician and did much good among sick soldiers. But 
she gradually grew more pronounced in her man- 
nish attire, and was many times arrested for that in- 
fringement of the law. She always pleaded her 
own case so logically that she was generally dis- 
missed with a reprimand, and cautioned not to do so 
again. But to this warning she paid no regard; 
and at one time entered the court-room bearing the 
United States flag and claiming her rights as an 
American citizen. 

The last I heard of Doctor Mary Walker was 
from a friend who, in 1908, saw her, — then grown 
old, — in a Brooklyn car. She was dressed in full 
male costume, — trousers, collar, tie, dress coat, 
high silk hat, and held a gaudy little cane. 

It was reported that, at a recent Suffrage Con- 
vention in Albany, Doctor Walker claimed that 
New Jersey's early constitution included Women's 



246 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

Suffrage, — that this part of the constitution was 
never finally repealed, though abrogated in some 
way, and that therefore New Jersey is a Suffrage 
State. 



OLD CAPITOL PRISON 247 



CHAPTER XXIX 

OLD CAPITOL PRISON, V/ASHINGTON, D. C, 

1865 

AMONG the unusual cases that often fell to 
me, was that of an elderly man, who had at 
one time been a judge in New Jersey, but 
drink had been his undoing. He was now serving 
a Civil Service sentence for petty larceny in Old 
Capitol Prison. I saw at once that he was a " bum- 
mer ", but that he had been a gentleman while 
sober. I did not feel much interest in this man 
personally, but he showed me a letter from his son, 
evidently educated, in which he begged his father 
to come home, saying he would take care of him 
and they might live together and be happy. The 
man had been a soldier for a short time, but had 
been degraded and discharged, and was now a 
prisoner of Civil Law. It was a difficult case, but 
for the sake of his faithful son I undertook it. I 
went to Judge Carter, of that district, urging him to 
let the man go. 

'' It is of no use. Miss Smith. The old fellow is a 
scamp and not to be trusted for a moment ", was 
the reply. " He will steal anything, and if I should 
let him go to-day he would be back here to-morrow 
on another charge. He was arrested on the charge 
of stealing a wheel-barrow." 

'' Why, Judge," I said, laughing, " he did not 



248 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

know what he was doing. He might as well have 
stolen a grindstone ! " 

This seemed greatly to amuse the judge, and he 
said directly : " Well, that settles it ; if you will see 
that he goes out of the city on the train to his son, 
he may go. If he gets free he will be back here in 
a week on another charge." 

Quite pleased with my success, I went to the 
Sanitary Commission, still in Washington, secured 
a ticket to his home, and wrote to his son to meet 
him; then I notified the old man to be ready at a 
certain hour the next day when I would call for him. 

When I went to the prison for him he began a 
round of deliberate lying, and tried every subterfuge 
to evade me and get away, so that he might remain 
in Washington. Finally I said : *' You will go with 
me to the train where I will put you in charge of the 
conductor, who will deliver you to your son, and if 
you will not agree to this you may remain where 
you are ". 

At last we started on our way down Pennsylvania 
Avenue. He insisted that the Government owed 
him money, so I took him to General Brice's office, 
where his clerks soon found a record of desertion, 
fraud, and bounty-jumping. I lost no time in get- 
ting him to the train, threatening to have him ar- 
rested if he attempted to give me the slip. The 
conductor took him in charge and promised to de- 
liver him to his son, and I was glad to get the old 
sinner off my hands. A few days after, I received 
a grateful letter from the faithful son. 



OLD CAPITOL PRISON 249 

Some months later I chanced to see a Jersey 
paper which stated that my old scamp had been ar- 
rested for stealing photograph albums, and that he 
had formerly been a reputable judge. 

On returning from the train I stopped at the War 




GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK 

Department for advice in some other cases. There 
I chanced to meet General Winfield Hancock, who 
gave me his autograph, and, chatting easily, we 
walked up Pennsylvania Avenue. And so it hap- 
pened that I had walked down Pennsylvania Avenue 
with a miserable old " prison bird " and had walked 



250 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

up the Avenue with " the handsomest man in the 
army ", whose appearance was greatly enhanced 
by a spotless, brilliant uniform. 

At Army Square Hospital I met again my 
former patient of City Point, who had captured 
his young rebel brother, the Captain. Their 
faithful brother had, with much care and difficulty, 
succeeded in bringing them to this hospital, but 
the cheerful young captain had died there from 
gangrene, — perhaps due to carelessness. The 
Major, weaker than when at City Point, unable to 
speak, motioned his brother to say that he had not 
forgotten the Lincoln badge I had given him, and 
that he would always cherish it. His devoted 
brother had struggled heroically to reach their 
city, and the Major had at least his wish to die at 
home. Thus ended another of the many tragedies 
of our unholy, unnecessary war. 

During my last weeks in Washington, I attended 
a session of the trial of Wirz, a Swiss, formerly 
turnkey of Andersonville prison, who was later 
found guilty of barbarous treatment of prisoners of 
war and condemned to be hanged, with eight con- 
spirators against the life of President Lincoln, in- 
cluding Mrs. Surette. I believe, however, that 
only four, including Mrs. Surette, were executed. 
These were the only traitors that suffered igno- 
minious death. Can any other victorious nation 
show such Christian clemency? 

Assisted by the Agency and Government De- 
partments, I had great success in difficult cases. 



OLD CAPITOL PRISON 



251 



After much travelling about from one department 
to another in the interest of a convalescent soldier, 
I collected for him fifty dollars, — which was long 
due, and which at once enabled him to start for his 
home, greatly elated by his freedom. 




CORDELIA ANDERSON 



An erratic, wild Irishman was made almost de- 
lirious by getting his long delayed three hundred 
dollars, and insisted upon giving me fifty dollars 
of it, but I informed him that I did not work for 
pay. He wrote me from New York later, on a 



252 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

double sheet of cap, in letters an inch long, with 
" God bless you ! " scrawled all over the page. 

Having left Doctor Painter's hospitable home, I 
was now boarding on K Street, where I met a 
most charming blonde Scotch girl — Cordelia 
Anderson, holding a responsible position in the 
Treasury Department. She made my evenings de- 
lightful, as had my friend Annie Bain in our field 
tent at City Point, after the strain, the work and 
indignation of almost every day. A few years 
later, this rare young woman, still in Washington 
in July of '67, sent for me to come to her on my 
way north on my vacation from Norfolk, Virginia, 
where I was Superintendent of Colored Schools. 
She was very ill with typhoid. I nursed her till 
the doctor insisted that for my own health I must 
leave her, when a kindly old Auntie took charge 
until her recovery. 

The intolerable heat of Washington at that sea- 
son was unusual. The streets were not paved, and 
a fine impalpable dust, continually rising, was 
suffocating. At the boarding house where we 
were, I saw the most astonishing rats, as large as 
small cats; and at night when I went down-stairs 
to get ice for the sick girl, they ran up-stairs ahead 
of me, and coolly sat upon their haunches, blinking 
at me with their vicious black eyes. 



THE LAST ACT IN MY DRAMA 253 



CHAPTER XXX 

THE LAST ACT IN MY DRAMA AT 
J WASHINGTON 

WHILE still working at high tension I sud- 
denly became aware that even my great 
vitality and good health demanded a rest, 
and I was preparing to leave for home, when Mr. 
Huron, of the Indiana State Agency, who had 
nearly lost his pretty wife by typhoid at City 
Point, came urging me to undertake an unusually 
difficult case, an application for discharge. I in- 
sisted that I had not enough energy left to win an- 
other case. His discharge had been repeatedly 
blocked, even though urged by the Secretary of 
the State of Indiana, and there seemed to be no 
hope of sending this brave soldier home. How- 
ever, Mr. Huron's statement of injustice was so 
exasperating that, in righteous indignation, I de- 
termined to remain and make one more effort at 
this last moment. This man, who had served his 
full term of four years honorably, and had lost a 
leg, was, without consent, placed on the roll of the 
Invalid Corps, which indignity old soldiers con- 
sidered a stain on their army escutcheon. Many 
appeals had failed to accomplish his discharge. 
The case was always '' referred back " to the hos- 
pital where it was duly '' pigeon-holed ". The 
man's sister had come to Washington expecting to 



254 REMINISCENCES .OF AN ARMY NURSE 

take him home to Indiana, but for weeks all their 
efforts had failed, and now some legal complica- 
tions had culminated which required his presence 
at home to save their little property and farm. 

The next day I went to the hospital, and after 
listening to the man's statement I went directly to 
the surgeon in charge, and stated the case, — to 
which he replied with some discourtesy. Having 
received the utmost courtesy and respect and at- 
tention from all the departments when I had asked 
for help, my temper rose to the occasion when he 
said : " The man has no descriptive list, and I will 
attend to it when I think best ! " 

" That will not answer my purpose," I replied 
warmly. " I wish the man to go at once ! " and I 
made some strong statements of the urgency of 
the situation. He assumed a dignified silence; on 
which I stated emphatically "The man is going! 
If you do not help me in the matter, he will go 
just the same ! " My indignation was then suffi- 
cient to put through a half dozen cases. 

Going directly to the Medical Department, I 
made known to Surgeons Middletown and Abbott 
the unjust detention of this loyal soldier. They 
had always promptly aided me in other cases; and 
upon hearing my statement they also became in- 
dignant, and offered me every help. I had " turned 
in " my ambulance with many thanks, when I in- 
tended to leave for home; but Doctor Middletown 
said " You had better have our headquarters' am- 
bulance, for you have many miles to travel over 



THE LAST ACT IN MY DRAMA 255 

the city to put this matter through, and I will go 
* over the head ' of this surgeon and order him to 
order a descriptive list." 

With this document I was much encouraged, 
and went next morning to the hospital and my aris- 
tocratic surgeon, who tried not to appear surprised 
as he said loftily: '' I will attend to it ". 

" Excuse me ", I said, " I came directly from 
Headquarters to get your signature, and to de- 
liver the paper to the Medical Department my- 
self." 

He dared not refuse this order, and sent for the 
steward and gave him the paper to fill out the 
order. I followed closely on the heels of this man 
to his office, where he coolly thrust the paper into 
a pigeon-hole and sat down. Surmising that his 
intention was to make me wait until after office 
hours, I at last said to him : " Steward, if you do 
not intend to make out that paper at once I shall 
report you to Medical Headquarters ". He soon 
found time and made out the paper, and I rode 
away to unravel more red tape. At the Medical 
Department the doctors signed the paper, and di- 
rected me to take it to the War Department. 
Distances were great and office hours short, and 
so another day passed. But at the earliest 
moment on the following day, we drove to the War 
Department, where I found Captain Sam Breck, 
now a retired General, a handsome thoroughbred 
gentleman who had done me many army favors. 
" Why, Miss Smith ", he exclaimed cheerfully, 



256 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

" are you here yet? I thought you were through 
with us." 

" Well, Captain, you haven't got rid of me yet, 
and though I am completely tired out, I have taken 
another most distressing case, and I'm going to sit 
right down here and talk until you help me out." 

Jokingly, he said, " Oh, I can't stand that, so let 
us see if I can save your breath ". 

I stated the case as briefly as possible, and his 
sense of justice was aroused as he said emphatic- 
ally, " I will help you with this case ". 

" How long does it take to put through a de- 
scriptive list? " I asked. 

" Well," he replied, " about three weeks us- 
ually!" 

'' Oh," I exclaimed, " that won't do. I can't 
stay so long, and if I leave the papers they'll be 
pigeon-holed again." 

He thought a moment, and said, " Let me have 
the papers ", and he left me waiting in his office. 

On returning the paper he said, " There, Miss 
Smith, that has never before been done in this De- 
partment. The descriptive list has been put 
through in fifteen minutes. Take it to youi 
doctor, and he will be obliged to sign it; and thei 
your man will be free." 

Too delighted and relieved to properly express 
my thanks, I said — " Good-bye for good thi{ 
time. Captain. I promise not to trouble you am 
more ! " 

Again in the ambulance I said to the driver, whc 



THE LAST ACT IN MY DRAMA 257 

was very much interested, " Now, Orderly, your 
horses can not go too fast for me ! " and soon we 
dashed up to the hospital grounds. 

Meanwhile the case had become hospital gossip, 
and every " Boy " knew of my work. The doctor 
gave me the slip, but I followed him up through 
the wards till I found him at last in his office. In 
passing through the wards I waved the paper say- 
ing — " Boys, I have it, I have it ! " A low cheer 
passed round as the good news spread from ward 
to ward. 

On presenting this order I said, '' Doctor, will 
you please sign this? " 

With an effort he controlled his expression, and 
said quite blandly, " Er, er-when would you like to 
have this man go? " 

*' Immediately, if you please ! " — with extreme 
politeness. 

'' Oh ! then I will order the ambulance." 

"Thank you," I replied, "I have the Medical 
Headquarters' Ambulance waiting and will take the 
man with me just as soon as he can be made 
ready." I then bowed myself out politely. 

In half an hour the happy cripple was placed be- 
side me in the ambulance, and we drove directly 
to Mr. Huron's home, where the now rejoicing 
sister was waiting. She started at once to take her 
brother home by easy stages, and we heard that 
they had reached their little farm in safety. A 
letter of appreciation from the Secretary of the 



258 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

State of Indiana was a satisfactory ending to this 
almost impossible case. 

In my many visits to this hospital I had discov- 
ered some " irregularities ", for instance, that a 
number of soldiers were detained on various pre- 
texts in order that the requisite number might be 
maintained, with their '' rations " (thirty-seven 
cents per diem) to keep open this hospital. So 
many men begged me, almost upon their knees, to 
help them. As this was quite beyond my strength 
I resolved to report the matter to General Grant's 
headquarters. During my call he listened politely 
and silently, laid away his cigar, gave me his at- 
tention, and referred me to Adjutant Bowers, who 
exclaimed : " Why, that is impossible ! Here is an 
order sent some weeks ago directing all conva- 
lescents to be discharged at once ! " 

" Nevertheless, Colonel," I replied, " the men 
remain." 

With some excitement he replied, " If you can 
get me the names of these men, and I find that 
orders have not been followed, I will close that 
hospital, at once." 

This decision and the fact that General Grant 
had given me his autograph during my visit, made 
me very happy. I diplomatically secured a list of 
about twenty men who were being wrongfully de- 
tained, and this was at once conveyed to Colonel 
Bowers. This was my *' Coup d' etat " in Wash- 
ington ; and I thought it a good time to retire from 
hospital work and to return to my home for rest. 



THE LAST ACT IN MY DRAMA 259 

Two weeks later I saw by a Washington paper 
that all patients at this hospital able to travel had 
been sent home, and a small remainder of those 
still sick had been carried to Harewood Hospital, 
the former hospital having ended its career. 

I had hoped to meet General Grant's Military 
Secretary, General Eli Parker, who wrote the 
draft of the surrender of Appomattox. He was 
said to have been of imposing appearance. He 
was chief of the Senecas and of the Six Nations, 
and his Indian name was Donehogawa. When at 
home on their reservation with their father, his 
sisters, who, when in Washington, were among the 
cultured society of the Capitol, wore the rich cos- 
tumes of princesses of the tribe and were treated 
with the homage due to their rank. 

Thus ended my work in Washington for the 
" Boys in Blue ". 



260 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 



CHAPTER XXXI 
TRANSPORTATION HOME 

THE war was over, and government passes 
and government roads were of the past, 
only regular army transportation was now 
allowed, except to the Medical Department for the 
purpose of sending home delayed patients. My 
*' Grant Pass ", that had made me so independent, 
became at once only a relic. Therefore, being en- 
titled to transportation to my home, I went to 
Surgeon General Barnes, U. S. A., to receive that 
privilege. After a pleasant conversation with the 
General, he remarked, " Your name is not on the 
pay roll, and you are entitled to pay for army 
service. If you will make out your claim I will 
endorse it ". 

To this I replied, — with more sentiment, as I 
now see it, than judgment, — " General, I thank 
you, but I do not wish pay for my services in hos- 
pital work. If I had been a man I would have en- 
listed as a soldier. But being only a woman it 
was all I could do, and I wish to give that service 
to my country." 

Often, since then, I have thought of the quizzical 
expression of the General's eyes, though he said 
not a word about an impractical girl who did not 
think far enough to see what good she might have 
done with that accumulated wage of several years. 



TRANSPORTATION HOME 261 

At that time, however, I was receiving (during 
several months) sixty dollars per month as New 
York State Agent, — the only pay I ever received. 
But that seemed different. The war was over. 

The General then asked how far I wanted trans- 
portation. I replied that I lived in Brooklyn, but 
would take transportation as far as he would give 
it. But as I used it only to my home I still have 
the following form of transportation : 

" Boston & Maine R. R. 

This Order not Transferable. 
D. No. 51978 

Oct. 20, 1865. 
Transport Miss Ada W. Smith 
From Boston, Mass., to Portland, Me. 
En Route from Washington to Augusta, Me. 
Signature of officer issuing the order, 

IRA G. PAYNE, 
Capt. A. Q. M. 

By order of the Quarter Master General, 

LEWIS B. PARSONS, 
Col. & Chief of Rail and River Transportation. 

Resting only a few days after my return to my 
home, I was urged by friends on the Sanitary Com- 
mission to assist, with another, a lady of remark- 
able ability, a Miss Baldwin, in dispensing some 
surplus funds for the Sanitary Commission, with 
Headquarters in New York City. This surplus 
could not, according to their organization, be used 
for other purposes than for the benefit of soldiers. 
After much discussion it seemed that the soldiers' 



262 REMINISCENCES OF AN ARMY NURSE 

families should be the natural recipients. So 
during most of that unusually severe winter, 
1865-6, I went daily from my home in Brooklyn 
to New York, and with my companion found many 




I 



ADELAIDE W. SMITH, 1867 



families in need of help, who might otherwise have 
perished with cold. When spring brought relief, 
the last dollar of that grand life-saving organiza- 
tion was expended. 



TRANSPORTATION HOME 263 

This was, of course, before the day of pensions. 
We continued this work until the funds were ex- 
hausted. Then I retired finally from the engross- 
ing activity of hospital life and caring for soldiers' 
families, in which I was engaged from 1862 
through 1866. 

I had been very happy in this ministration that 
daily brought its reward in the gratitude and ap- 
preciation of my " Boys in Blue ", and in the 
thought that I had done at least what I could in 
that fearful struggle to save our Union and 
glorious country. 

No one really desires to grow old, but I would 
not have missed that call for every heart and hand 
to respond to its duty, even to be young again. 

And the star spangled banner 
In triumph shall wave, 
O'er the land of the free 
And the home of the brave. 

Francis Scott Key. 




HENRY * C022ENS 



\iihw\<in/^/f,yZ^^:^A 



'/l.2yty/\ro%\ui2i 



of New York. Grand Army of the Republu 

489 WASHINGTON AVENUE, 



••bSPCCT 546. 



Brooklyn, ■'"'> 's''^- 1905. 



MISS ADELAIDE W. SMITH gave her lecture, " Hospitai Experience 
During the War," before the U. S. Grant I'ost of Brooklyn, on (Tuesday 
evening, March 9th last, under the auspices of the Entertainment Committee. A 
large audience was present to greet Miss Smith. The subject, itself one of absorb- 
ing iatetest, was skilfully presented b) the lecturer and was received with marked 
attention' and interest. 

I take very great pleasure in commending Miss Smith's lecture to the G. A. R. 
I'osis of New York and vicinity also to Church Societies, Clubs, Schools, and other 
organizations that go to make up the social and intellectual life of a community. 
Miss Smith's services to our sick and wounded soldiers from 1861 to 1865 entitle her 
u» th« {en*r»«t ^cognition of our comrades, and the men and women of America. 

^Signed) ANDREW JACOBS, 

CItairman ENUrlainmenl CummilUf, 

V. S. Grant Post, 

Brooklvn, New York. 



h 



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